Hi Sheila!
 SK> Certainly, as a forum dedicated to Educators and concerns of interest
 SK> to them, the current issue of Ebonics is on-topic in this forum. Of
 SK> course, as it has to do with school boards and federal funding, it is
 SK> not possible to completely divorce politics from a discussion of this
 SK> issue.
Sadly, nor some religious "tinges" sometimes, as when certain religions 
believe that some racial characteristics were given as a curse, etc.
Southern Baptist comes to mind as a potential question mark to be clearer.
Not really sure nor am I qualified to engage in a discussion of it or 
intend to do so. ...just affirming my concurrence w/ your statement above 
by acknowledging another sensitive area. ...no other reason, btw.
I think I'm learning that something so clear as to be a maxim or a law 
of nature *becomes* political as soon as someone pronounces it so.
It could be said that it's a *political* position that we should teach 
our children at all -- further, that people should receive *pay* for doing 
so likely has been at one time or another.  ...Happilly, we have a majority 
position that settled the issue long ago so it's no longer a political 
issue under contention.  (I hope)
 SK> Political remarks which are directly tied to the issue of Ebonics, and
 SK> are not intended to promote or belittle certain political views or
 SK> personalities, are appropriate. 
...trying to walk that thin line as best I can, Sheila.  Likely, some will 
be appaled at the tone I assailed the South with for their historic role 
in the development of the issue -- or my opinion thereof anyway. 
...Honest thoughts and feelings; perhaps others share them.  I can say 
that similar observations before community groups have been met with 
applause and someone meeting me at the door thanking me for expressing 
what the group felt unable to do. ...I only see this as participating as 
an objective observer speaking bvecause so much of the "backwash" of 
these issues affects me intimately -- I could give a squat less about 
"taking up someone elses fight" for recognition or glory or whatever 
and I'm certainly not "better" than any other so assertion of condescension 
or patronization on my part (Ron?) have been nothing but cheap shots and 
off target in my opinion.
 SK> Using the issue of Ebonics as a starting point and then digressing 
 SK> or going off on a political tangent is not acceptable.
Understood, but in the course of discussion acknowlegement of encountering 
a tangental point would seem to be reasonable -- using one as an excuse 
to swerve major focus of the thread if the vector points away from 
education and things affecting it wouldn't be.
"not intended to promote or belittle" ???  
Gosh, Sheila; yeah, I've been guilty of that in the past a few times 
before but I've changed my ways. 
You can rest assured now that if I smile at the Supreme Court's 
unanimous decision and outburst of laughter in Falwell v. Flint 
that I'm appreciating their humanizing the court -- my intent 
would *never* be to underscore that any clerical figure is a jerk.
mmm, proving intent sounds like Matt's territory anyway.  I'll defer.
The skills of proving mathematics and logic assertions and those 
related to English are rather closely related, wouldn't you say?
In *your* area, if you had populations across the country that 
grew up understanding math from no other basis than the abacus 
some might say it was an advantage -- some a handicap.
I'd say it would be criminal to degrade the student's heritage by 
insisting that they deny their origins and richness of exposure.
Further educator specialized training could _exploit_ the situation 
for all advantages and positives.  I'd damned well be in favor of 
pay for extra training of the educator and higher compensation 
in accord with usual accrual of units and specialization certs.
Who cares whether is's classed as GT or remedial correction -- 
it's a special situation deserving of special ed attention.
mmm, labels and stigma *do* have a bearing though.
...one thing for sure; that same parallel has not been made in just 
that way in any other forum, anywhere.  That's worth preserving too. :)
I'll work to keep a sensitive balance but I'd be patronizing of fellow 
contributors here if I watered down my views or removed significant 
color from the way I express them.
Given "twit filters" and our God given descretion in striking (K)ill 
or (N)ext though I really don't think you have a serious problem.
Besides, I like occasional spark, zip and liveliness but I wouldn't 
like it to go so far as consistently degrading the dignity of the 
conference or always being offensive to the majority.
Occasionally?  ...well, I *do* have a little sack of burs.
I'll "trim 'em" when possible. 
Have a happy New Year,
-frank:)
--- Maximus 2.01wb
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