Teach Out Article Summaries

 Title: Other People’s Children

The Silenced Dialogue: Power and Pedagogy in Educating Other People’s Children

Author: Lisa Delpit

Lisa Delpit, in "The Silenced Dialogue: Power and Pedagogy in Educating Other People’s Children," describes a culture of power that is present in mainstream America. This culture of power is the values, beliefs, and ways of the dominant society (white, upper middle class, male, heterosexual). To thrive in our society, one must acquire the rules of this culture.  However, the people in this country not represented in the list above are brought into this culture of power, and it is something they must learn. For those who need to know about this culture, it all begins with the establishment of the school system. The schools are built for the success of children from middle-class families that already have this “culture of power.” Our job here is to expose the children who were not born into this culture and teach them about the culture of power while also preserving their own culture. To do this, we must open our ears and hearts, taking the time to work with these children and observe how they communicate, learn, and respond to direction—in addition to taking the time to get to know their parents and/or families who share their culture.  Once we have an understanding of their personal culture, we can work with the child to help them grow comfortable with the “culture of power” in a meaningful way; this will enable them to succeed in our American society.

Title: The Academic and Social Value of Ethnic Studies: A Research Review

Author: Christine E. Sleeter

Christine E. Sleeter, in The Academic and Social Value of Ethnic Studies, advocates for the inclusion of ethnic studies in the school curriculum. Ethnic studies encompass the history, experiences, cultures, and social issues of minority groups. The mainstream curricula (Euro-American) in schools do not constitute the history of the entire U.S. population and do not represent the contemporary racism that these minority students face every day. As a result, the students do not feel represented, do not trust that what is being taught is true, and become disconnected from the classroom and school culture. Incorporating Ethnic Studies into schools helps resolve the problem of student disengagement. It provides all students, regardless of their background, with a sense of belonging and fosters growth.