In reading the Delpit article, I noticed in the dialogue between Martha Demientieff, the Native Alaskan teacher, and her students, that she instructed the child in a way I as a white middle class teacher would never dream of doing. On page 41, she talks about how the children need to use "Formal English" when writing and trying to get a job, but the Athabaskan Indian "heritage" language should be used when they are at play and in their homes. The quote that has me so worried about the way she is teaching is,
"We'll talk like them when we have to, but we'll always know our way is best." On the next page, the Southern black high school teacher says to Joey, her student, "But who decided what's right or wrong?" to which he replies, "I guess white people did."
My question is this: Does Martha (and other teachers like her) send the wrong message to their students when comments like this are made? Did I really make these rules, or was it the British ancestors, or the originators of the English language? Don't we have the right to be as proud of our 'proper' English as say, the French who work hard to keep their language pure?
I know that I use a different language in the instruction of my students than I use in the company of my friends or family. Does that mean one language is right and one is wrong? I think the more appropriate wording would be that there is a right time and place for all types of language usage.
I'm interested in hearing what others have to say on these topics.