JestAJester · 31-35, M
No I don't think it is. Its possible the teacher was but theres a practical reason why a teacher might do something like that. I'll just call it 'slang' for now instead of AAVE because practically everyone has their own form of slang. Its fine under normal circumstances or within your community however there is an appropriate manner of speaking that we all should learn. What I am referring to is more or less intended in the workforce or professional fields. Look heres the thing. Its human nature to judge, no matter how hard we try we slip once in awhile and judge someone unfairly. Its a common assumption that those of whom cannot speak eloquently, and more specifically those that speak in either vile or in a nonsensical fashion are unintelligent or uneducated or unrefined. And quite often that is the case. There are exceptions of course. But this is a classroom we are talking about. It is the duty of teacher to educate their students and prepare them for life in the real world. (I would argue education is severely lacking but I digress) So its fine for those young men to speak in slang among their friends but when they enter the work force, that conduct simply will not fly. When you go into an interview for a job, the interviewer makes an assessment of your character and your education by your job experience, your education, your etiquette and your speech and determines whether or not you are good fit for the company and a valuable asset. It may not matter how intelligent and educated you are if you speak in unintelligible or worse vile language. You will be judged on the spot and it will impact your likeliness to be hired or to even be taken seriously. Same goes with how you dress and carry yourself.
Maybe that teacher approached this issue inappropriately I don't know I wasnt there but I believe the intention was that they need to practice practical and grammatically correct speech on a regular basis. If they don't become familiar with it as if its 2nd nature how will they be able to progress through life? There could lie infinite potential in the school being hindered by something as silly as slang.
Maybe that teacher approached this issue inappropriately I don't know I wasnt there but I believe the intention was that they need to practice practical and grammatically correct speech on a regular basis. If they don't become familiar with it as if its 2nd nature how will they be able to progress through life? There could lie infinite potential in the school being hindered by something as silly as slang.
FreddieUK · 70-79, M
I was a teacher of English. There was a strong local dialect and accent in the school I started in. My job was not to change their accent or to cut out their dialect words, in fact we used to discuss them as part of a lesson sometimes. You have obviously got a good understanding of dialects and language.
Teachers are employed to help their students become employable and to extend their knowledge beyond that which they find in their own peer group. Sometimes to lighten the mood, I would speak in the way my student sometimes did. 'Where's he to then?' or 'That's cool, man,' but I was quite rightly always laughed at because it was not expected from the likes of me.
The 'correct' register of language depends on the situation. I regarded my classroom as a formal situation and encouraged more formal language. Personally, I would not have 'corrected' people using colloquialisms and vernacular in informal social situations. However, the impression a student makes when going for even a weekend job or speaking to someone they have not met before makes a big difference. I'm not sure that racism comes into it.
I have highly articulate and educated relations in the generation below me who over use the word 'like' and this is a joke between us when I overuse it myself. It depends on what one's ear is attuned to I think.
Teachers are employed to help their students become employable and to extend their knowledge beyond that which they find in their own peer group. Sometimes to lighten the mood, I would speak in the way my student sometimes did. 'Where's he to then?' or 'That's cool, man,' but I was quite rightly always laughed at because it was not expected from the likes of me.
The 'correct' register of language depends on the situation. I regarded my classroom as a formal situation and encouraged more formal language. Personally, I would not have 'corrected' people using colloquialisms and vernacular in informal social situations. However, the impression a student makes when going for even a weekend job or speaking to someone they have not met before makes a big difference. I'm not sure that racism comes into it.
I have highly articulate and educated relations in the generation below me who over use the word 'like' and this is a joke between us when I overuse it myself. It depends on what one's ear is attuned to I think.
Gibbon · 70-79, M
@FreddieUK I think like you've got the better approach then like the other teacher in the post. Like she wasn't helping the situation it is like what it is. I have experienced dialects from Maine to the deep south conversing together and it's like hilarious to be in the middle with what I consider no accent while they tried to understand each other. One has to be in an area for quite some time for their dielect to change to the new environment. And like you are correct like is way over used and I like find it obnoxious.
Here, we have a regional dialect, which would only be understood by local teachers if spoken.
Some of our teachers weren't local enough to the area to understand certain words when spoken or written in dialect - so we would be pulled up for it and corrected, even if it put the rest of the sentence out of context.
If they are in an English speaking school, they should be speaking in English so that everyone is included (unless they are studying a foreign language or doing homework for a foreign language). That's basic respect for each other and the school rules.
Some of our teachers weren't local enough to the area to understand certain words when spoken or written in dialect - so we would be pulled up for it and corrected, even if it put the rest of the sentence out of context.
If they are in an English speaking school, they should be speaking in English so that everyone is included (unless they are studying a foreign language or doing homework for a foreign language). That's basic respect for each other and the school rules.
froggtongue · M
The teacher might not have realized it was. Many who participate in a thing don't see how wrong it is. I hope the teacher learned more about AAVE. As you are presenting it, so long as the students were turning in the assignments with the grammar correct in textbook American English, there should be no reason to stop others from talking how they want, seeing as how she understood what was being said.
Miram · 31-35, F
No, it doesn't seem racist to me.
Unfortunately the way you speak formally can either set you up for failure or success. It makes sense to address it in academic settings. Vernacular English doesn't really necessitate omitting the verb "have" from the perfect tense. And you can still use informal speech in informal settings.
Unfortunately the way you speak formally can either set you up for failure or success. It makes sense to address it in academic settings. Vernacular English doesn't really necessitate omitting the verb "have" from the perfect tense. And you can still use informal speech in informal settings.
AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M
@Miram what about people who can’t conjugate the verb “to be “ in their only language ? (Ex: I be , we be , etc..)
PinkMoon · 26-30, F
As a black person disrespecting the english language and its rules is historically a form of subversion against colonization and the history of the erasure of black culture. During appropriate scenarios we code switch and comply but during our own time aint nobody need your red pen underlining what it is and isnt grammatically correct english. Correcting grammar is appropriate in the classroom, doing it outside of the classroom setting is annoying and rude but not racist. I had a teacher like that except she was racist. I'm South African so we still retain our native languages. She would tell us not to speak our languages even during lunch breaks. Fuck her,that didn't stop us. That's a clear example of racism.
bijouxbroussard · F
@PinkMoon In the U.S. AAVE is the closest we’ve had to an alternate dialect, although much of it is classified as "slang" and used by whites and other minorities trying to sound "cool". 🤔
bijouxbroussard · F
This particular teacher may be in the wrong school. It does sound like she has an axe to grind. As long as the students are engaged and interested when she’s teaching and turning in their assignments, her comments about their casual conversation, especially outside of the lessons, are a bit condescending. She risks losing their respect if they can’t meet them where they are.
Maya15 · F
i don't know if it was appropriate but that doesn't indicate racism. it would take being cruel because of his race not because of how he talks and there is a difference. If racist than she would have to that to all black students not just ones that speak AAVE. the whole people who aren't liberal about race are racist thing isn't accurate.
bijouxbroussard · F
@Maya15
the whole people who aren't liberal about race are racist thing isn't accurate.
How are they not ?
Maya15 · F
@bijouxbroussard i didn't say they aren't. there just isn't evidence that they are. i'm sure some are but there's no reason to think most are.
Neoerectus · M
@meJess But it is not 'poor' English, but different English
bijouxbroussard · F
@meJess I think it’s the issue of this teacher criticizing the students’ speech on their own time, among each other, which might be problematic. There’s a way that many people speak in a professional setting, which is ostensibly what they’re learning in school, vs. the way they might speak with friends and family.
Bumbles · 51-55, M
I don’t condone the chastisement but agree with her concept.
Neoerectus · M
AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M
@Neoerectus where for art thou, where art thou, where art thee, where are thee, where are you, where you at, etc..
AngelUnforgiven · 51-55, F
@peterlee correcting someone is not putting them down. Its called tough love. Obviously they were not being taught correct English at home.
Frostcloud · F
KingofBones1 · 46-50, M
No it's not racist if it's done in a school setting for vocabulary reasons. And it depends on the language they use in the correction. If they say something like the proper pronunciation of the word would be then no that is not racist. But if they say something like quit speaking that ebonics or quit talking black then yes it is
AthrillatheHunt · 51-55, M
peterlee · M
Increase your vocabulary if you can by reading. I used to hate reading until I was seventeen.
AngelUnforgiven · 51-55, F
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AngelUnforgiven · 51-55, F
@GeniUs i agree with that 100% she was actually doing them a service by not allowing them to remain ignorant of correct english.
Neoerectus · M
@AngelUnforgiven It is a form of inherent/systemic racism. It may not be intended/overt, but it does reflect an elitist approach to informal expression. If an assignment with stated "King's English," maybe...
If they grew up speaking like that I guess that is their thing. They probably won't integrate well with Whites if that was a concern.
I can imagine a White teacher going crazy hearing it all the time. That teacher needs to find a new school. haha
I can imagine a White teacher going crazy hearing it all the time. That teacher needs to find a new school. haha
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