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A Defense for Requiring Standard English

• By Thomas J. Farrell, 1983

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Why this article?

• Controversial
• Ideas dating back many decades
• Related Experience

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Background of the article

• Overview
• Great Controversy
• Published 1983 in CCC
• Solicited many reactions
• James Sledd

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About the Author

• Associate Professor at St. Louis University
• Department of Composition
• Received Ph.D. from St. Louis University
• Rhetorical theory and history of rhetoric
• Orality-literacy studies
• Studied Walter J. Ong Eric A. Havelock

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Publications

• Media, Consciousness, and Culture Explorations
  of Walter Ong's Thought
• 1991 (Co-editor and co-author)
• Communication and Lonergan
• 1993
• I.Q. and Standard English CCC.
• 1984
• Literacy, the Basics, and All That Jazz
• 1977

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Some Definitions

• Standard English
• The standard surface forms of English grammar
• Real Racism
• A deep seated personal malady (moral disorder)
• Ethnocentric
• Belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic
  group

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Question

• How many of you agree with Farrell, meaning you
  think that all students should be required to
  learn Standard English?

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Child Development

• Literate Culture
• Occurs gradually over time
• Residual Culture
• Learning based on oral tradition
• Dont develop abstract thinking skills
• How do you obtain abstract thinking skills?
• Learn Standard English.

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Question

• Who should be responsible for making sure that
  children have the proper skills necessary to
  learn Standard English?
• Parents?
• Teachers?
• Friends?

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Argument 1

• Sledd
• Teachers should be sensitive to student feelings
  when correcting them.

• Farrell
• To teach, you MUST correct students.
• You cant predict how students will react.

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Question

• Do you think it is possible to be sensitive to
  students feelings, but also get your point across
  as a teacher?
• Have the expectations of teachers changed over
  the years?
• From 30 years ago?
• From when we were small students?

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Argument 2

• Sledd
• Teachers should learn the dialects of their
  students.

• Farrell
• You dont have to understand dialects to teach
  students.

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Activity

• Search for Articles dealing with the 1996 issues
  of teaching Ebonics in the Oakland School area.
• Topics
• What is Ebonics
• Who is Carrie Secret
• LSAs Resolution
• Boards Decision

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Question

• Is Ebonic considered a dialect?
• How important do you think understanding a
  students dialect is in order to teach them
  effectively?

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Argument 3

• Sledd
• Minorities can learn English if they CHOOSE to
  learn it.

• Farrell
• School Policy
• Student Practice

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Question

• Why is learning Standard English important?

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Question

• What do you think are the differences between our
  education systems feelings and actions
  surrounding Standard English, and societies
  feelings and actions?