Blog Post #2

Other People's Children
Lisa Delpit

ARGUMENT

This author, Lisa Delpit, argues that it is the responsibility of those in the majority, those with greater power who must take action in order to change "what" and "who" is heard in defining what is best for poor children and children of color.
It would seem there would be an obvious answer to this argument wouldn't it?  Unfortunately it is quite the opposite.  This debate for what is best for poor students and students of color has long been debated.  The problem that persists is the who that are doing the debating are not the who that is doing the hearing.  It is the parents of black children and teachers of color who have had their thoughts put on mute for the past several decades due to their lack of power within the education realm.  Delpit goes on to describe how the rules of the culture of power are based on the rules of the culture in which is in power.  This "culture of power" makes an immediate disadvantage for those who are not the majority or not in power.  It is most difficult for those within this realm of power to step outside themselves and see how poor children and children of color are being negatively affected in their education.  However, that is indeed what it is going to take.  In order for this process to change, the individual or individuals must be willing to put aside his or her beliefs as well as seeing themselves as those on the outside do.  It is these willing individuals that will open up the dialogue in hopes for change.


The article below is one I found that was somewhat wordy but a few points stood out to me while I was reading.
"...But what you are essentially saying is, you don't mind people who have historically had more continuing to have more. You are almost guaranteeing that inequities are going to continue over time" (Ross). 
       I thought this excerpt from the article tied in quite nicely to the Delpit piece we just discussed.  In context with the rest of the article it really sheds light on how without individuals willingness to change, the current inequalities will continue. 
Further in the article is discusses how the population that lives in poverty has the opportunity to "think beyond today" stripped from them.  Their focus is on surviving from day to day, not years and years from now.  This provoked me to think of how this thought process affects students in school.  Does it limit their visions of their future? Does it delay them from dreaming and setting goals for themselves? And lastly, how can I as a future teacher encourage students in this situation to change their current pattern of thought from living day to day to where they see themselves ten years from now.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/06/minority-children-start-poor-stay-poor_n_845866.html