Delpit reflection

 Lisa Delpit reflection 

    As educators, we must realize that most schools are run by a culture entirely of power that most students cannot access. The entire school community must unite and use our collective knowledge to our advantage. By doing so, we can ensure that we are all working towards increasing the educational experiences for our students and others around us. Delpit says that students who are outside of the culture of power were never given the right tools to navigate the culture, and without it, they have suffered. Again, Delpit exclaims that students should be exposed to the culture. The further the children are disconnected from the curriculum and the hidden norms that are embedded into the power culture, the harder it is for that child to succeed in school. Even if students are academically able to continue in school, they struggle to succeed without knowing the five aspects of power.

    

    "I have frequently heard schools call poor parents "uncaring" when parents respond to the school's urging, saying, "But that's the school's job." What the school personnel fail to understand is that if the parents were members of the culture of power and lived by its rules and codes, then they would transmit those codes to their children." (Delpit 30) The disconnect between the dominant culture of power and specific expectations and that of marginalized cultural groups. The expectation placed on a child's parent when putting them through school is that they're supportive and actively participate in their education. Not everyone has parents who are in their lives, or they are in their lives, but just because they are their parents, there is little to no relationship there. The assumption of the cultural codes and the blindness to privilege in specific school communities is often damaging to the students going through it if the codes and rules are not presented to others who do not know them. As future educators, we need to not only hear our students but we need to make sure we see them and set them up to have a solid education. Understanding our students and their different backgrounds is so important. Creating that relationship with your students so they feel comfortable and safe and can go to you with anything is very important. 

    Growing up in Pawtucket, I attended a diverse public elementary and middle school. I went to a Catholic private school, where either your parents could financially afford it, or you thrived academically or athletically. High school was also very diverse and inclusive in most aspects. I am still learning that things for others are more challenging to achieve. My parents taught me to treat everyone equally, no matter the circumstances. You never know what is happening behind closed doors, giving someone grace on their worst day might make them feel that moment of peace they've needed.  I feel that with my background, I am somewhere in the middle. I am not totally naive, but I will never understand or go through the constant struggles faced by minorities. I am constantly trying to learn and grow to better understand other people's struggles and learn that listening means more than anything. One time I can recall that I noticed that not everyone had the same background as I did was when I started playing travel softball. This was something I did because my parents could financially afford it and had the resources. Mostly, every single girl I played with grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood and was very naive to other cultures and backgrounds. Looking back at my childhood, I was always very emotional. I usually do not like to admit that, and I just claim to be a very big empath. I never wanted anyone I went to school with to feel excluded or left out, but I know I will never feel the same way my friends feel when going out or applying for a job.