OPC+Presentations

Sabrina Cabanilla PPS 6010 Dr. Coleman April 19, 2012 OPC Presentation  In Lisa Delpit’s essay, “Education in a Multicultural Society: Our Future’s Greatest Challenge” she shares her thoughts on what needs to be changed in schools in order to improve education for children who are poor and of color. Delpit starts off by discussing the cultural clashes that may be overlooked though exist between students and their schools. Differences in cultural practices may lead to a misunderstanding or under-estimation of student abilities in part of the teacher. Examples of these misunderstandings have been observed through the differences in delivery of communication. Delpit also shares her observations of how cultural stereotypes limit teacher expectations of a student: how an Asian American student being a “model minority” exhibiting submissive and compliant behavior cause the teacher to overlook her incorrect work, how African-American girls are praised for their nurturing ability rather than their ability to succeed in the classroom, how Native American students fall silent when expected to answer questions in manners considered culturally inappropriate. When teachers are culturally unaware of their biases toward different ethnic groups, it leads to a watered down curriculum for students, limiting their opportunity to be pushed to further potential on the classroom. Expecting students of color to conform to the Eurocentric ways of teaching deteriorates their own cultural values. More time is spent educating teachers in understanding that students of color, or in poverty are least likely to succeed in the classroom rather than focusing on ways to encourage and guide students in these populations to perform well. Multicultural education is more than just telling teachers to believe in and appreciate students of different backgrounds, but of really taking the time to be analytical of their own teaching practices and beliefs. Delpit’s collection of essays in __Other Peoples Children__ has proven to be a beneficial text for teacher educators. 

Jesse Santana OPC presentation

Kate's OPC Presentations



Jacquelyn Kent