Lisa Delpit (Reflection)

When first starting to read this piece I had a hard time understanding some of the context. Taking a step back and re-reading the article offered a little more insight for me. I was able to reflect on what Delpit was really saying and even was able to look at some of my own experiences in my own education. As I have gotten older I have realized that the approach and the codes of power that she talks about make all the sense in the world. I first must reflect and say that as a white woman who grew up in a small town with a predominantly white population, Delpit's depiction and explanation about some of the strategies used by white fellow teachers and their ideologies are in fact true. I grew up in a household that always gave clear and concise directions, so when looking back at my education, especially at a younger age, the teachers I learned and responded more positively to upheld those same type of rules and codes of power like the ones at home. Ultimately, this way of teaching is often portrayed as a "dominant" or "more strict" approach however for me and my reality I see it as a clear, concise, and direct approach. Delpit explains in great detail the impact this has on kids when growing up in a different cultural setting than one of their teachers. If not established it causes a barrier and makes it harder to connect with your students and for students to connect with their teachers. Delpit is saying she does not advocate that it is schools job to attempt to change the homes of poor and nonwhite children to match the homes of those in culture of power, but rather that schools provide these children the content that other families from a different cultural orientation provide at home. We all come from different backgrounds and have different ideologies but that should not be a reason that someone is put at a disadvantage. We go to school to learn and further our education, and with that it has been proven time and time again that learning is limitless. So why should it be expected that everyone conforms to those in the culture of power and that there is only one way to connect and teach children?