The Silence Dialogue

          

The Silence Dialogue:Power and Pedagogy in Education Other People's Children

      by Lisa Delpit 

                I agree with the statement from "Other People's Children" in "The Silenced Dialogue: Power and Pedagogy in Educating Other People's Children" by Lisa Delpit, page 22 which says “...they think they know everything about everybody ...they don't really want to hear what you have to say. They wear blinders and earplugs.” This statement annoys me, because it’s not right to act toward someone as if they are not a human being. I believe that we all should listen and learn from one another because we all live in the same world. If somebody wants to be a god and not a human being then they can move to the moon or another planet and see if there’s anybody there who appreciate them for the way they act. Fair enough, African Americans went through history with slavery and here on this free land and with the divine right to be equal, they were treated unequal in comparison to whites.  The hurt, pain, and fear, these people have to go through is wrong. 

            Not only adults where treated with disrespect but some teachers make a fool out of black students at school. Just as it is stated on page 24 saying, “Children from middle-class homes tend to do better in school than those from non-middle-class homes because the culture of the school is based on the culture of the upper and middle classes- of those power.” It’s upsetting how gain of power can create disaster and cruelty upon others. Throughout history there was always a superior and if we stated back to our ancestors the leader is the alpha and the rest of the group are the followers. But not anymore, because today is the 21^st century where we live as equal human being in comparison to one another. Unless we have ranks, for example, the mayor, governor, senator, congressman, and the president to help organize our country.  

            Power is not always good upon mankind. In Similarity, on page 26, Delpit states, “Those with power are frequently least aware of – or least willing to acknowledge – its existence. Those with less power are often most aware of its existence.” A person who misuses their power shows a bad reputation for those who have powers. For an example, knowledge from education can also lead to destruction. Knowledge is the theory for people to get jobs, positions and ranks, and sometimes people forgot that education has power. I believe a student can learn better if they can connect to the topic of a subject. On page 33, Delpit states how a good teacher taught a class of black students. The teacher uses the students’ interests, which is creating rap songs and connect it with literature. A, not so pleasant example to teach some students are located on page 28. The teachers did not connect the students with the subject of the topic in class and he/she taught them as if they were elementary kids. These two teaching skills, show that the students’ culture has great impacts on them in learning.

Bibliography

Delpit, Lisa. "The Silence Dialogue:Power and Pedagogy in Education Other People's Children." Other People's Children 1995: 21-47.