Other People's Children ( Cultural Conflict in the Classroom) By Lisa Delpit

Cultural Conflict in the Classroom 

Three Talking Points

 1.The author maintains that black students do not advance with this method, and that the direct teaching of skills is crucial to  their success. Delpit suggests that black educators recognize that black students are already fluent and are anxious to teach them the “correct” conventions so that they can achieve success in mainstream white society.

2.Delpit shows' how nonwhite educators have passionately spoken out about being left out of the conversation concerning  how to best educate children of color. Delpit examines the issues that create these complete communication blocks through the lens of   her theme, “the culture of power.” The author suggests that although she believes that a culture of power exists in this   country, she does not advocate for passive mass compliance, but rather “a diversity of style” and that each cultural group should   be allowed to maintain its own language style. 

3. All teachers must teach all students the explicit and implicit rules of power as a first step toward a more just society.

Argument Statement

Those with power are frequently least aware – or least wiling to acknowledge – its existence. Those with less power are often most aware of its existence.