Delpit Reflection

    When reading this text, I initially reacted by saying, "This is common sense." However, I was reminded of what Delpit noted at the beginning of the text. She wrote about how, within a culture, there are certain things that members of that culture implicitly understand. However, those outside that culture don't since it's not something present in their culture. She also talks about how those with power aren't as aware of the power they have, while those who don't have power are aware that they don't. After remembering those points, I shifted how I viewed those who would see the concepts mentioned in the text as "new." 

Another point that stood out to me was the section about authority. For me, it brought clarity as to why I value certain teachers over others. For instance, in high school, I had a very passive teacher. He would present his lesson while students were talking in the background, and he would never address them directly. During my time in that class, I respected the teacher only because it was the polite thing to do, but I never took him seriously. This text showed me how the difference in my culture shaped how I responded to his teaching. 

This text also affirmed my beliefs on how people should teach. In the text, she lists not only how teachers can show authority but also how they should treat struggling students. In terms of establishing authority, she says teachers need to develop meaningful relationships with students, believe in them, hold them to high expectations, and incorporate their culture into lessons. What stuck out to me the most was the importance of holding students to high expectations. Last year, I wrote a paper on the importance of having black teachers. In this paper, I wrote that black teachers are more likely to have higher expectations for black students, and due to this, their black students perform better in school. When students know that you believe in them, they will rise to the occasion, and once they see that they can do hard things, they will no longer be scared to challenge themselves. 

Lastly, this showed me the importance of my role when I become a social studies teacher. Delpit speaks about how students need to learn the cultural codes that will allow them to succeed. She expresses that black culture is beautiful, but cultural codes are politicized, and students need to learn the language that will help them navigate the world. As a social studies teacher, I can teach students why they have to speak or write a certain way by showing them the history behind these cultural codes. My job also allows me to affirm their culture. By showing students how history and politics shape the world, I am able to show them that their culture is amazing and that it isn't wrong; it's just not the culture in power. My job allows me to teach them to succeed and to allow them to take pride in themselves and their background. Through this text, I was able to see what a privilege and responsibility I have. 

    In class, I’d like to talk about the four ways she says teachers can establish authority and our role as teachers in making sure students are equipped to face the world. I want to bring this to the class because it would allow us to reflect on how our disciplines can contribute to preparing students. For example, how an English teacher prepares students differs from how an art teacher or science teacher would prepare students. 

Importance of Black Teachers Essay:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OaRVfqIAkc5c-Lni_FOpYCrVfY_7k2f8bVmwv7bTLJM/edit?usp=sharing