FT> Personally, I think Pat Finger is probably a very fine teacher 
 MS>     Pat Finger is not a _teacher_ at all.  She works 
 MS> out of the school district's central office building.  
 MS> She is a bureaucrat.
She at least knows something about communication skills -- amongst which 
listening to understand is most highly prized.
 MS>     "Ebonics" has provoked a backlash among the public 
 MS> and even the solidly pro-public-school media that has 
 MS> not died down and won't die down.  The fact that the 
 MS> controversy won't die is because "Ebonics" is the last 
 MS> straw for many frustrated with public schools.
I *do* believe you wish that to be true Matt.
 
...I just don't think that's the case.
 MS>     As for "respect the cultures", can you imagine how 
 MS> the media would ridicule any school system that sought 
 MS> federal funds in order to bilingually teach kids who 
 MS> grew up speaking rural redneck English?  
Matt, you've just identified one of the populations most in need.
You surprise me sometimes.  ...yes, what a wonderful idea!
...pump the "right wing sludge" outta their brains. :) :) :)
Seriously.  Yes, they need it too!
 MS>     Black columnists have blasted Oakland's "Ebonics" 
 MS> proposal as educational disaster for black kids.  Read 
 MS> Walter Williams' many articles on "black English" (and 
 MS> now) "Ebonics".  A black Chicago Tribune columnist who 
 MS> admits to having grown up speaking "Ebonics" blasted 
 MS> the whole idea of schools _accepting_ it as a 
 MS> legitimate language.
Yes, it has been pointed out that there is a lack of successful 
blacks (great numbers of anyway) returning to help those still 
in need.  ...kinda like white flight.
...Then there are those like Ward Connerly, CSU Regent, who caught 
the Red, White, and Blue carrot and then turned to snarl at the rest 
of the pack.  Interesting.
Best,
-frank:)
--- Maximus 2.01wb
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