The Silenced Dialogue and Overview

 Argument

Lisa Delpit argues that every child learns different and has a right to an education that fits their needs. A teacher is responsible for teaching their students how to thrive in the "real world". Delpit is encouraging teachers to expand their views on almost what the rights and wrongs of teaching are. You are allowed to suggest to a student how they can improve on their work to fit a social standard, but you should do so in a way that does not diminish their true voice. Towards the middle of the article, Delpit even directly states, "...I believe in a diversity of style, and I believe the world will be diminished if cultural diversity is ever obliterated" (39). The best way to prepare your students to flourish in society is by teaching them the lay of the land so to speak. Suggest ways for them to improve their communication, but be sure to remind them that it is due to the social power levels and that they are not doing anything wrong when they speak/ act in a way that is culturally correct to them and their families. We live in a society that preaches pretend diversity, yet there are rarely any acceptance for diversity in education. In the beginning of the article, Delpit informs us of a reading program called Distar and compared it to a progressive program approach. After comparing the two Delpit writes "It would be... tragic to operate as if these children were incapable of critical and higher-order thinking and reasoning... provide these children the content that other families from a different cultural orientation provide at home" (30). You cannot go into a lesson assuming parents are working with their children at home on phonics and letters, or even that they have any prior knowledge on the topic. The same applies for how you can teach something. You have to be able to adapt and shift your lesson delivery to best fit all students and how they are going to be able to understand it.