(Rochester, N.Y.–13wham.com) – It’s called Black English Vernacular – or more commonly – Ebonics.In a newsletter to staff, Rochester City School District officials say it is OK for students and teachers to speak Ebonics in class.
The newsletter, Diversity Dialogue, suggests teachers use BEV to communicate with students. It says teachers can:
• “Switch into BEV in specific situations or informal discussion.â€Â
• “Translate common phrases in Standard English into BEV.â€Â
• “Read and retell stories in both BEV and Standard English.â€Â
“We need to embrace the diversity they bring into our schools,†said the district’s Chief of Diversity and Leadership, Michele Hancock.
Hancock and Tyra Webb-Johnson, Director of Coaching and Leadership, wrote the newsletter. They are both former elementary school principals. (more…)
I say, if that is what the people want, then by all means let them continue (’cause let’s face it, they have been speaking ebonics in that school for years. This is just a formal way to recognize it). In five years, ask them if grades have improved as a result of being “culturally sensitive” (offense taken). I have one dollar here that says that more money is still needed to get those kind of results.
In other news, here is a brotha that is doing something to address this whole issue of poor English:
Here is his website.
I do think we ought to seriously consider adopting the term “AIN’T” as the contraction of “AM NOT” in formal English.
The shorten form of “WILL NOT” is “WON’T”, not “WILLN”T”!!!…
We do not say “AMN”T”, after all…it is inexistent in English.
Languages are full of linguistic corruptions and adaptations.
The issue is making it strictly first person. We ought not to say “you ain’t” when “you aren’t” works perfectly well.
I also believe the contraction “Y’ALL” is perfect in describing ‘plural you’.
Y’all and ain’t- two words to consider real English after all.
I ain’t trippin’, but y’all gots to recognize!
There is NO SUCH THING as PROPER english, there is STANDARD english…
I’d rather take an “Ax or Ask” class …
Teaching “ebonics” will make the children dumber because every bodies slang and aren’t the same,
they tried it before in N.O in 1994-95 where they tried to make us learn random slang from California. I was in 4th grade that year.
in New Orleans we stay things like this
“O-Mike, I’m Goin’ to da sto’-yeh, You Comin’”..
“O” is to get the persons attention
at this point’ im telling you what im about to do
“yeh” is to let you know that its a fact
and then Im asking you if you’ll come ..
kinda like saying “Hey mike, I’m on my way to the store, would you like to come?”
LOL …
Listen to our politicians then never use standard english .. they use Big words and Gibberish to explain what they’re doing ..lol
I totally agree with you Book. There is no such thing as proper English. I believe that it is important for us to learn to speak Standard English. It shows intelligence and it will be needed in the professional world. But everyone uses slang. It’s a regional thing. Some people choose to use their own terms or way of saying things. Or some that are a part of a group may choose to do so as well. And if anyone knows me, I speak with an accent and I hardly use slang unless I am around close friends and family. I hardly use slang at all, really. But from area to area, slang is very different. You can not teach this because it will take deeper research just to teach someone this. In fact, I’m really insulted because it’s like these people are trying to teach blacks to talk black. And let’s keep them talking ignorant, yay! Lol. I totally disagree with this. I feel that we all should get the same education and don’t mind the way we talk. This is America and we all have accents and certain ways of expressing ourselves verbally. Yes, it may not be so standard, but it’s a part of a person or group. It can’t be taught. It’s original and just a part.