Hello William!
 -=> Quoting Frank Topping to Matt Smith <=-
 FT> ...one of your earlier postings quoted an individual -- school
 FT> principal, I believe -- as saying to the effect that maybe ones
 FT> grandmother would be  able to understand them at 
 FT> home speaking Ebonics
 FT> but it wouldn't cut it  in the real world.  ...I quite agree that
 FT> Ebonics isn't the medium of  commerce in America 
 WL> but I question deeply
 FT> whether a person  making such a statement has values that Americans
 FT> should  respect at all.
 WL> Let's see if I've got it right.  You think they won't be able to get
 WL> a job, but only an insensitive cad would say so.
No, I saw it as being demeaning to the maternal line of the family and 
holding a rather negative and narrow view of family relations.
I suppose he would view obtaining a position where one could be 
"a player" in the U.S. House of Representatives (perhaps a key one 
supportive of the Speaker) among the highest possible achievements 
in the "real world".  Maybe he would think a job where you trash 
40,000 American workers, send all manufacture overseas, and rake in 
obscene amounts of cash and benefits for it "is real".
To my way of thinking a chat with ones grandmother is about as REAL 
as we can get in this world.  ...it's probably ok, though, to demean 
the family relationship and then ask (in the same breath): "Where are 
your men?"
 WL> I've just been watching the video tape of My Fair Lady, a Christmas
 WL> present.  Professor Henry Higgins make the same point about people
 WL> being trapped in poverty because of their speech, but he sees
 WL> this as a tragedy, not a cause of celebration.
I see it the same way.  I believe the Oakland School Board sees it that 
way as well.  I *also* see them as most likely to capture the elusive 
"teachable moment" more often with hardcore street kids.
They'll probably get a chance to prove themselves right or wrong.
I, for one, wish them well.
Right now though I'm trying to observe a moment of silence for 
those poor educators having to teach ethics, government or any 
other "real world" stuff with a straight face.  :) :) :)
 
Best,
-frank:)
--- Maximus 2.01wb
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