Essay on All American Students Must Learn Standard English

All American Students Must Learn Standard English What are words? A simple question such as this would in theory demand only a simple answer. Words, however, take such an abundance of forms that creating a truly inclusive definition for the notion of â€Å"words† is daunting. In its physical manifestation, a word is little more than air passing over taut tendons, forming sounds which are accented by flicks of the tongue against the teeth and roof of the mouth. These sounds are arranged in patterns that come to be recognized and accepted as words. But are these sounds all that words represent?—certainly not. Words command power. Although the defiant playground motto states that â€Å"sticks and stones may break bones, but words can never hurt,†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦According to Geneva Smitherman, in her book Talkin and Testifyin, standard English as we know it today flourished in the eighteenth century to fill the void left by the decline of Latin (186). African American Vernacular English, or Ebonics, a lso formed to meet a specific need. Contrary to popular belief, Ebonics rose out of 19th Century southern slave culture, not out of repeated use of â€Å"sloppy† speech. Slaves who were strictly oppressed by their masters were not allowed to peaceably assemble or meet with each other for any purpose. Such freedom, slave owners feared, could foster coercive ideas amongst their slaves. Slaves, therefore, needed a language that would allow them to communicate with each other in a clandestine manner. Ebonics rose to meet this need (Smitherman 19). Using Ebonics, slaves were able to communicate behind their masters’ backs and form a unity that was instrumental in the perseverance of African American culture through the unspeakable trials of slavery. Almost one hundred and forty years after Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery, the need which Ebonics originally rose to meet is no longer present. In its place, a new need has arisen—the need for increased social mobility. Statistics show that a cycle of poverty has formed in which a disadvantaged African American child has little chance in his lifetime of ever advancing appreciably beyond the socialShow MoreRelated Ebonics In Schools Essay1071 Words   |  5 PagesRights leader Jesse Jackson defended Oaklands school over a controversial plan to recognize black English in the classroom (N.A., p.1). On December 18, 1996 the Oakland School Board approved a policy affirming Standard American English language development for all students. This policy covers the effectiveness of the strategies that must be utilized to ensure that every child will achieve English language Proficiency (Hawkins, p.1). This policy is based on the work of a broad-based Task-Force, convenedRead MoreAmerican Education System Essay930 Words   |  4 Pages An Overview of the American Education System No matter the profession one intends to pursue, a GOOD education plays a vital role in preparing students for the future. Adolescents learn through a variety of styles: conventional classroom teaching, extracurricular activities, friendships, and other methods. While teenagers gain valuable knowledge in terms of general information through personal hobbies, an educational institute most consistently acts as a source of academic instruction. However,Read MoreUsing Online Literacy Software Programs1562 Words   |  7 Pagesprograms? Review of the Literature English language learners (ELLs) represent a rapidly expanding population in U.S. schools. 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Most of them speak differentRead MoreNomation for Candidate as Teacher787 Words   |  3 PagesInternational Reading Association Standards. Based on the candidate’s self-assessment and review of the COEL Professional Dispositions and the IRA standards, it is clear the candidate is an advocate of a student-centered organization and is committed to providing a safe and productive learning environment by expanding the knowledge of students regardless of social, cultural, or economic background. The candidate understands that through alliances and partnerships with all stakeholders and the communityRead MoreUnited States Education : The Common Core And The Current State Standards1143 Words   |  5 Pagesstates launch ed the Common Core standard and currently forty-three states are working to implement the system. The Common Core’s main purpose was to prepare American students for success and to create an even playing field for all students. But is the Common Core really helping students reach their potential? Main Argument An assessment, conducted by an assistant professor of education and his associates at University of Southern California, showed that the American test scores were very low comparedRead MoreThe Fastest Growing Subgroup Of The Nation Are English Language Learners1659 Words   |  7 PagesThe fastest growing subgroup in the nation are English Language Learners (ELLs). Over a period of 10 years, from 1995 to 2005, ELL students grew over 60% (Wolf, Herman, Bachman, Bailey, Griffin, 2008). Since 1980, the number of residents aged five years and older that speak a language other than English at home has more than doubled. Fewer than half of these residents are proficient in English. Utah is showing similar trends in population as it is growing more ethnically and racially diverse