Talking Points on Collier's "Teaching Multilingual Children"

First off, Collier is definately a tougher writer to understand in comparison to that of Kozol, McIntosh, Delpit and Johnson. However, like that of Delpit, Collier definatley uses the value of repetition in getting her point across without any possible confusion.
1. I for one strongly agree with her stance on the value of reflecting teaching literacy with an "caregiver feel". Her notations about the value and overall effectivness of "the caregiver" are undeniable. I think this is a top priority to discuss in class because I feel as though it is definately bound to stir up a few different points of view.
2. I feel as though she begs the question of: multilingual children? On page 227 she argues that educators should NOT focus on trying to "rid" the child of their first and original language. It is undeniable that endless teachers across the globe continue to try and write English over children whose first language is Spanish, Italian, and even French. I know for a fact that a family member of mine, my uncle, works in a Central Falls school where a co-worker of his was trying desperately for years to rid his students of thier Spanish-speaking origins. Not only is it added stress, but it can be looked at as an overall waste of time. If they speak it at home there is no denying them the right to speak it at school.
3. Thirdly, I find that Collier's argument concerning the fact that "reading and writing" for ANY culture is a necessity, regardless of the language spoken. Literate children of any language or dialect is extremely important. Being able to read and write is an extremely overlooked yet nontheless important aspect of keeping children involved in education. Regardless of whether or not the child speaks English, keeping them ontop of reading, writing and comprehending what is in front of them is extremely important in determining their future.

Kozol's Amazing Grace

When I was in tenth grade, my History teacher, a recent graduate of Boston College, asked my class if anyone was interested in doing extra credit for her class. I was one of about ten students who decided to do this. Her extra credit seemed simple, however was much deeper than I had assumed. She wanted us to read Kozol's Amazing Grace. In need of extra credit, I began reading, however was too "bored" to complete the reading. I had assumed it was extra credit because anyone who could sit through more than a page of it deserved a few extra points. Now, as a sophmore in college, my outlook is very different, especially on this piece.

1. "The city's practice, according to Newsday, is to pass out sleeping bags. You just cover up..... and hope that you wake up the next morning," says a father of four. In humid summer weather, rats emerge from holes in bedroom walls and terrorize infants in their cribs."
--Not only does this extremely harsh and unbelievable issue seem like something from a really bad nightmare, but it is also the harsh reality that large masses of people endure year in and year out. Society as a whole, is living with this and is offering limited help at sealing up houses and keeping pests under control. (pg.4)

2. "The truth is, you get used to the offense. There's trashy things allover. There's a garbage dump three blocks away. Then there's all the trucks that come through stinking up the air, heading for the Hunt's Point Market. Drivers get their drugs there, and their prostitutes."
--This is an actual comment from a local. This is sad. People have become so accustomed to their miserable and poor conditions of life, and so they no longer care about what happens to them or their neighborhood. There is no hope left that someday their neighborhood will "clean itself up" or become a better place to live. To them, there is no luck in wishing for better conditions; just deal with it and move along." (pg. 8-9)

3. "Wiping a cloth across her throat, she says, "It was 93 degrees today. The air was so sticky, you could hardly breathe. Hotter inside--- but I'm afraid to open up the windows." (pg. 18/19)
---A woman is afraid to open the windows in her own house. Is this ridiculous or what? In the extremely hot and unnerving heat of 93 degrees, a woman is afraid to open the windows of her own house because she is afraid of the outside world.

Extreme living conditions. That is probably the best way to explain the theme and main point of Kozol's Amazing Grace. Not only are the adults living in a truly unbearable society, but the kids are too. In a society where there is really no safe place, men, women and children are faced with the unimaginable. They do not choose to live this way. Many of them are third and forth generation family members who have lived like this their entire lives and will continue to do so for the many years ahead. Children of all types and sizes are stuck in this rut and cannot ever escape. They can dream but rarely will they succeed when they are trapped in this neighborhood. The extremes of rat and cockroach infestation are not surreal but rather an everyday occurance to these families. Homicide is as heavily in the air as the stench that coats the community. In a sense, our worst nightmares are someone else's reality.

Intro to Me

Hey bloggers, I'm Jared. I'm 19, a student at RIC in FNED, and am a major in secondary education for English. I am a second year student at school and have had a quiet year so far. My hobbies include going on random drives, traveling, hanging out with friends, and just having a good time. I have one sibling, about a hundred cousins (i'm not joking) and two dogs. I am a native of Smithfield, Rhode Island. I'm dying to see the west coast, since I have lived in the same old town for nearly two decades and have always traveled in and around New England ( to me Disney doesn't count). So, I will end my rambling here in order to avoid saying too much.