I think that this book is a must read for all teachers, administrators and even policymakers. This book provides an awareness of how people of color (students, parents, and teachers) view white educators and feel in regards to the new progressive methods of teaching that are not successful in minority classrooms. It also offers a perspective that is either not considered or is not even acknowledged as existent. In order to move forward and successfully develop educational policies and strategies for minority children, educators need to be aware of the views and arguments of their opposition, especially from those who will have to utilize the policies and strategies. Delpit’s arguments provide the reasons and supporting evidence of the failure of certain progressive methods (namely English) with minority students.
This book should also be read by preservice teachers and utilized as an eye-opener to the reality of the profession of education. I think that the points and opinions described by Delpit offer preservice teachers an unabashed and honest look at the problems and issuing surrounding curriculum, teaching methods and how it all ties to the necessity of providing a multicultural and socially just education. The book will help to prepare preservice teachers for what to expect in a culturally diverse classroom and to recognize that not all methods are successful with certain groups of children. Instead of blindly implementing teaching and learning strategies that are not effective, they will be able to recognize what isn’t working in the classroom and most importantly, why?
Some of Delpit’s remarks may sound racist; but her main idea was that all teachers of all cultures need to understand how to improve literacy for all children, which happens to be “other people’s children.” Teachers and other stakeholders must negotiate and align their paradigms on how to teach children with native tongues different from “Standard English.”
The “power culture” is rooted in our educational system, and plays such a critical role in our society; so I feel teachers; parents; and all stakeholders should read Delpit’s book for change to be effective within the classroom. “Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom” speaks about the power inequalities that exist in our school system and in society. This gives educators a different perspective on teaching children of color, and low-income children.
Students who are studying to be teachers should also read this book as an eye-opener of the troubles both students and teachers face in their classrooms in regards to prejudices, cultural differences, language barriers, and communication problems.
Within the public education system, this book should be recommended not only to teachers or future teachers; but to policy makers and administrators to assess their teachers’ ability to be culturally sensitive. Delpit’s book offers solutions and directions to what can be done to accomplish this. Teachers must work with their students’ strengths to bring about change, and embrace a child’s culture and background.
I would not recommend this book to any teacher or future teacher who is looking for an all-end recipe for a cultural students’ success; as there is none.