Delpit, "The Silenced Dialogue: Power and Pedagogy in Educating Other People's Children

The Silenced Dialogue: Power and Pedagogy in Educating Other People's ChildrenLisa Delpit

Argument:  Delpit argues that white educator colleagues, in their infinite wisdom and by virtue of their power over the institution of education, have little interest in engaging in communication with their non-white colleagues about how best to teach non-white and/or lower middle class children.



Talking Point #1
In Lisa Delpit's The Silenced Dialogue, five aspects of power are proposed one of which I'm perplexed by. "If you are not already a participant in the culture of power, being told explicitly the rules of that culture makes acquiring power easier."  Within the context of the educational setting, how would this play out?  Delpit goes on to give an example of this aspect of power in the scenario of going into a new cultural setting to work.  She suggests that when a member of that group shares explicit information about appropriate dress, how to interact, and what words or phrases are taboo, assimilation is easier.  If a teacher or school administrator used his or her authority (aka power) to explicitly direct clothing choice and interaction styles, particularly in public school settings, there would be push-back and complaints, at least that is what I would anticipate based upon my experience as a parent of children in public school systems.  Can anyone share real world scenarios to support Delpit's position on this one? It would have been helpful to me if her example was within the educational setting.

Talking Point #2
With regard to the conversation about skills vs process approaches to teaching, Delpit has heard from many teachers.  The white teachers wished to engage in the discussion of skills vs process approaches, whereas "all of the nonwhite respondents have spoken passionately on being left out of the dialogue about how best to educate children of color." Delpit questions how it could be possible that both sides who claim to have the same goals, can have a complete block in communication, such that the educators of color feel so deeply wounded, bitter and resentful.  In reading and imagining this point that Delpit makes, I was reminded of an event in history, unrelated to the educational setting, but clearly depicted a scenario in which white and black people had opposite reactions to the same event.  I recall watching the newscasts that recorded the reactions of whites and blacks as the OJ Simpson verdict was announced on October 5th, 1995.  This is not completely relevant to the topic at hand but it showcases how differently the two races perceived the facts of the case which was televised and watched by approx 150 million Americans. 

OJ Simpson Verdict Reaction  I am interested in hearing what educators of color have to say about the topic of how best to educate their children.  If the dialogue could be started, what would black educators want me to know?


Talking Point #3.

Delpit suggests guidelines for starting such a dialogue.  The guidelines are:
1.  Acknowledging that individuals are experts in their own lives, and their own experiences.
2.  Do not be too quick to deny their interpretations or accuse of false consciousness.
3.  Believe that people are rational and always act rationally, even if we do not understand.
4. We must learn to be vulnerable enough to allow our world to be turned upside-down in order to allow the realities of others to edge themselves into our consciousness.

This fourth guideline resonates with Armstrong, "Colorblindness is the New Racism.  Armstrong's notion that whites don't self-identify as a race of their own, do not suffer the consequences of being categorized as a race, and therefore are not conscious of racial issues in their daily lives.  Whites go about their work and professional lives oblivious and insulated from all issues pertaining to race.  White educators, according to Delpit, are in need of a paradigm change in order to appreciate the perspective of those who live with issues of race in their daily lives.