DW3a

The reading I chose to look at more closely is A Perspective on Teaching Black Dialect Speaking Students to Write in Standard English by Judith Nembhard. In this reading Nembhard is pushing the idea teachers sometimes look at Black Dialect users mistakes in writing as just small "surface errors" instead of seeing them for what they really are, errors. They are sometimes overlooked and the student isn't penalized for it because the teachers think "oh that's just the way they write." She quotes other linguist stating that " children without standard American English are handicapped directly"(Nembhard 434) Nembhard and others feel this way because they feel that it essential to know standard English and even if Black dialect is the dialect of choice knowing standard English will get you places in life. She states that some schools force young students to "disown" their native tongue and speak and understand standard English. According to James Sledd, a linguist quoted by Nembhard, students are expected to take on standard English as their second language. Sledd feels this is wrong and wants the "majority" race to not be prejudice. He states that the "differences between dialects are unlikely to hurt anybody much"(Nembhard 435)

Nembhard goes on to say that the students shouldn't be stripped of their native language but yet, given a reason to WANT to learn standard English. Help them understand that it is much needed and that they will go places knowing it and being able to write and speak it. She talks about the fact that students should be made aware of the possibilities and opportunities that come with the knowledge of standard English. Nembhard goes on to say that the teachers should not look over the simple grammar errors or the often placed -ed and -s or double the double negatives. Students should take responsibility and if they are not earning good grades the teachers should not be afraid to fail them. Towards the end Nembhard gives suggestions on how to help and student that uses Black Dialect learn to write in standard English.

* The teacher should demonstrate confidence in the students potential to learn.

*The teacher should have high expectations for the students success and not lower them because they feel the students can't meet them.

*The distinctions between the students oral speech and standard English should be made and clearly explained.

*The writing assignments should be graded fairly but at the same time thoroughly. (No errors should be looked over)

*The students should be required to write in class so that help can be given when needed.

*Students should be provided with out-of-class support when needed. (tutors)

*Teachers should give the grade deserved even if it is a failing grade when warranted.

This article discusses scholarships of AAVE in comp. studies by Nembhard stating her thoughts on how AAVE is perceived by teachers. She talks about P. A Ramey's quote "they're so different, therefore I can't teach them" and say she agrees with that statement. She talks about how teachers would teach writing to non-black students.

"take a positive approach, rightly emphasizing the importance of clear communication. Whereas the teachers of Irish or Jewish students with linguistic differences approach the task of teaching the standard forms with some disagree of equanimity, teachers of black dialect speakers oftentimes 'cringe in disbelief and disgust' and may try to 'forego as a wasted effort any attempt to teach language.'"

In this passage Nembhard discusses her perspective of how teachers feel about having to teach writing to students with black-dialect. They aren't enthused at all and it's not what they want to do.
I believe that this reading effectively make an argument about AAVE because in it Nembhard talks about AAVE being just another language and that teachers and the school district shouldn't require the students to completely disown their home dialect and to simply fully explain to them why they should want to learn standard English. The teachers shouldn't look over the students mistakes and at the same time they shouldn't be afraid to fail the students if their grades permit it.