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DAOTD: Ebonics suggested for San Bernardino school district


bikehorn

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http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208~12588~2969790,00.html

 

Ebonics suggested for district

 

By Irma Lemus Staff Writer

 

SAN BERNARDINO Incorporating Ebonics into a new school policy that targets black students, the lowest-achieving group in the San Bernardino City Unified School District, may provide students a more well-rounded curriculum, said a local sociologist.

 

The goal of the district's policy is to improve black students' academic performance by keeping them interested in school. Compared with other racial groups in the district, black students go to college the least and have the most dropouts and suspensions.

 

Blacks make up the second largest racial group in the district, trailing Latinos.

 

A pilot of the policy, known as the Students Accumulating New Knowledge Optimizing Future Accomplishment Initiative, has been implemented at two city schools.

 

Mary Texeira, a sociology professor at Cal State San Bernardino, commended the San Bernardino Board of Education for approving the policy in June.

 

Texeira suggested that including Ebonics in the program would be beneficial for students. Ebonics, a dialect of American English that is spoken by many blacks throughout the country, was recognized as a separate language in 1996 by the Oakland school board.

 

"Ebonics is a different language, it's not slang as many believe,' Texeira said. "For many of these students Ebonics is their language, and it should be considered a foreign language. These students should be taught like other students who speak a foreign language.'

 

Texeira said research has shown that students learn better when they fully comprehend the language they are being taught in.

 

"There are African Americans who do not agree with me. They say that (black students) are lazy and that they need to learn to talk,' Texeira said.

 

Len Cooper, who is coordinating the pilot program at the two city schools, said San Bernardino district officials do not plan to incorporate Ebonics into the program.

 

"Because Ebonics can have a negative stigma, we're not focusing on that,' Cooper said. "We are affirming and recognizing Ebonics through supplemental reading books (for students).'

 

Beginning in the 2005-06 school year, teachers will receive training on black culture and customs. District curriculum will now include information on the historical, cultural and social impact of blacks in society. Although the program is aimed at black students, other students can choose to participate.

 

The pilot program at Rio Vista Elementary and King Middle schools focuses on second-, fourth- and seventh-grade classes. District officials hope to train teachers from other schools using the program as a model.

 

Board member Danny Tillman, who pushed for the policy, said that full implementation of the program at all schools may take years, but the pilot program is a beginning.

 

"At every step we will see positive results,' Tillman said.

 

Tillman hoped the new policy would increase the number of black students going to college and participating in advanced courses.

 

Teresa Parra, board vice president, said she worried the new program would have an adverse effect.

 

"I'm afraid that now that we have this the Hispanic community, our largest population, will say, 'We want something for us.' Next we'll have the Asian community and the Jewish community (asking for their own programs). When will it end?'

 

Parra said the district should focus on helping all students who are at risk.

 

"I've always thought that we should provide students support based on their needs and not on their race,' Parra said.

 

Tillman disagreed with Parra, saying programs that help Latinos already exist in the district. He cited the district's English- as-a-second-language program.

 

Texeira urged people not be quick to judge the new program as socially exclusive. She said people need to be open to the program.

 

"Everybody has prejudices, but we must all learn to control that behavior,' Texeira said. She said a child's self confidence is tied to his or her cultural identity.

 

She compared the low performance of black students to starvation. "How can you be angry when you feed a family of starving children?'

 

Ratibu Jacocks, a member of the Westside Action Group, a coalition of black activists, said they are working with the district to ensure the policy is implemented appropriately.

 

"This isn't a feel-good policy. This is the real thing,' Jacocks said.

 

Jacocks said he didn't believe the new policy would create animosity. He said he welcomed the idea of other ethnic groups pushing for their own programs.

 

"When you are doing what's right, others will follow,' Jacocks said. "We have led the way before the civil-rights movement opened the door for women's rights and other movements.'

 

___

 

come on! they're going to teach it in schools?

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Wow, this really pisses me off. In my view, anyone who considers ebonics anything more than crude street slang is an ignorant ass.

 

Parents need to take some responsibility and teach their children how to communicate effectively in english before they allow their kids to pervert the language with a bunch of jive-talking nonsense. Validating ebonics by referring to it as a language is a major step backward in a school system that already sucks. Allowing the teaching of ebonics in school only demonstrates lazyness and ignorance on behalf of the parents.

 

My kids go to a San Bernardino county school.

I sincerely hope this is not implemented.

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Originally posted by s4001

I'm with Bill Cosby. It's not ebonics, it's idionics.

 

 

I am sure that you are aware it is not proper english to contract your it and your is in that manner; furthermore, "idionics" is not a "real" word.

 

Please surrender 3/4's of your total expected lifetime earnings and your college diploma, and report to the principal's office for a spanking.

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Originally posted by Deville

Wow, this really pisses me off. In my view, anyone who considers ebonics anything more than crude street slang is an ignorant ass.


Parents need to take some responsibility and teach their children how to communicate effectively in english before they allow their kids to pervert the language with a bunch of jive-talking nonsense. Validating ebonics by referring to it as a language is a major step backward in a school system that already sucks. Allowing the teaching of ebonics in school only demonstrates lazyness and ignorance on behalf of the parents.


My kids go to a San Bernardino county school.

I sincerely hope this is not implemented.

 

 

You realize that "jive" has its roots entirely within AAVE- and the term "sucks" is heardly an apropriate manner to display anyhting other than your own laziness and ignorance.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by scarecrowbob



I am sure that you are aware it is not proper english to contract your it and your is in that manner; furthermore, "idionics" is not a "real" word.


Please surrender 3/4's of your total expected lifetime earnings and your college diploma, and report to the principal's office for a spanking.

 

 

I guess I'm not culturally sensitive enough. I need state-funded cultural sensitivity training.

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Originally posted by bikehorn



Texeira said research has shown that students learn better when they fully comprehend the language they are being taught in

 

Ok, right here is where the article stops making sense. From what I gather, they are implying that they do not understand english and need ebonics to take place of regular english to allow them to have a successful education. This is going to end up biting everyone in the ass because sure, cater to them now but once they leave High School/College, how are they going to function in getting a job?

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SB is a dump enough as is. Let's dumb down the kids some more.

 

 

'Mary Texeira, a sociology professor at Cal State San Bernardino..' I guess she lives there, it's her back yard she's ruining.

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Originally posted by s4001



I guess I'm not culturally sensitive enough. I need state-funded cultural sensitivity training.

 

 

No, you need state funded Irony training.

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Originally posted by scarecrowbob



You realize that "jive" has its roots entirely within AAVE- and the term "sucks" is heardly an apropriate manner to display anyhting other than your own laziness and ignorance.

 

 

LOL!

Who was your english teacher? Roger in the Sky?

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Sounds stupid to me, especially once they reached "These students should be taught like other students who speak a foreign language."

However, by technical definition, ebonics IS another language, no contest.

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Posted

Originally posted by s4001

I'm with Bill Cosby. It's not ebonics, it's idionics.

 

 

"I be down with Cos. No be 'bonics, it bees idionics."

 

Geez, get wit da program. Where you from?

 

This (article) is EXACTLY what we need at this time - another "legitimate" excuse for failure. You can't blame a lazy teen any more for failure - his teachers cannot translate Shakespeare or geometry or chemistry into ebonics so that he can understand.

 

:rolleyes: One day, I will buy a lottery ticket, win, and move to another country.

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Posted

I'd like to see some Shakespeare translated into Ebonics, though.

 

 

Originally written by Shakespeare in Macbeth, I.3

Banquo:

Were such things here as we do speak about?

Or have we eaten on that insane root

That takes the reason prisoner?


Macbeth

Your children shall be kings.

 

 

->

 

 

As taught in Ebonics

Banquo:

{censored}, Whassis? Iz we on f*ckin' crack?


Macbeth

'Sup bro, you'z gon' be pimpin' this hood.

 

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Posted

 

Originally posted by scarecrowbob



You realize that "jive" has its roots entirely within AAVE- and the term "sucks" is heardly an apropriate manner to display anyhting other than your own laziness and ignorance.

 

 

What is "AAVE"? I've never heard that acronym used before. "African American Vernacular English", I would guess?

 

Still, I'm with the others here, teaching in ebonics is a really bad idea, the kids need to learn English.

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Posted

Originally posted by scarecrowbob



the term "sucks" is heardly an apropriate manner to display anyhting other than your own laziness and ignorance.

 

:mad:

 

 

 

....moves scarecrowbob WAY up the Enemies of Suck list

 

 

 

I'll get you Bob, and your little dog, too. :mad:

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Posted

So they are going to try and get kids interested in learning...by teaching english improperly.

 

....riaght.

 

And I don't buy this "Ebonics is another language." I'm not sure that's a decision a school board has the authority to make.

 

If I was a parent, or a student for that matter, in that district, I'd be insulted. Teach me a dialect of English that is complete bull{censored} because you think I have niether the aptitude, nor the attention span to learn the real thing? Please:rolleyes:

 

Parents need to buckle down a bit more and make sure their kids have the support and encouragement they need to do well, and the kids need a reality check of some sort.

 

I know, trying to convince a teenager that an education is the most important thing they can ever get, is never easy, but that doesn't mean you just stop trying to do it the right way, and bull{censored} them instead.

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Posted

Originally posted by lug



:mad:



....moves scarecrowbob WAY up the Enemies of Suck list




I'll get you Bob, and your little dog, too.
:mad:

 

Oh, personally, I like sucking in all its many forms registers, persuasions, and degrees. As Suck-or and suck-ee. I'm happy when it rains, cause of the low pressure front.

 

I'm just sayin' that it is impossible to use language without violating gramatical and usage rules, because these rules only make sense in their structural context-- and so there is no standard american english languge.

 

No one speaks or writes the SAE that people who oppose AAVE so vehemenantly claim to have as the object of language instruction-- especially not the people who really desire the existance of SAE.

 

 

ps.

no tengo un perro pequinito, but if I did, it would be he who got you, yo.

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Posted

Originally posted by scarecrowbob



Oh, personally, I like sucking in all its many forms registers, persuasions, and degrees. As Suck-or and suck-ee. I'm happy when it rains, cause of the low pressure front.


I'm just sayin' that it is impossible to use language without violating gramatical and usage rules, because these rules only make sense in their structural context-- and so there is no standard american english languge.


No one speaks or writes the SAE that people who oppose AAVE so vehemenantly claim to have as the object of language instruction-- especially not the people who really desire the existance of SAE.



ps.

no tengo un perro pequinito, but if I did, it would be he who got you, yo.

 

Mi perro es muy mal and would eat yours for lunch! :mad:

 

xena1.jpg

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Posted

Originally posted by Bonoman

They be teaching ebonics in skool? That {censored} be crazy, yo!
:rolleyes:

fo' shizzle bro'!:mad:

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I hope they have enough budget left for the new school busses they'll need, you know, so the kids feel at home and are comfortable in their environment...

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