Blog #4 ben pankratz

After reading Lisa Delpit’s article “The Politics of Teaching Literate Discourse” while agreeing with much of what Gee writes she points out two points that she takes issue with. One of which is  "Gee’s notion that people who have not been born into dominant discourses will find it exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to acquire such a discourse" (546) and the second being an "individual who is born into one discourse with one set of values may experience major conflicts when attempting to acquire another discourse with another set of value." (546-547). Delpit then goes on to give examples of specific individuals who with the right guidance and education were able to overcome the obstacles that Gee claims are near impossible to overcome. Using other readings Rodriguez, Mori, and Abinader can fit into this category because all of them have had to acquire a new and different discourse than the one they were born into. Although I agree that with the right conditions a person can move beyond the discourse they were born into i think her overall critique of Gee is missing the main point.


Gee's article can be seen as an overhead view of society and the education system and although pointing out exceptions is valuable in analyzing the system, it does little to actually affect how that system operates. Gee wasn't advocating the system just outlining how it works. Kind of an Educational Marxist, with an educated/non educated, primary/secondary dominant/non-dominant discourse. So when analyzing gee's writing I personally take a different more cynical  broad approach. I would argue that although great, inspirational, instructors are essential to helping those less fortunate learn a discourse with more social value there are many more factors that play a role. Such as the political climate and the education system (much like what's going on with Walker),the family life of the individuals which is affected by the Jobs market particularly in cities where Jobs are becoming more and more scarce, and prejudice and racist policies that still exist such as police in cities taking a militaristic policing strategy as opposed to public servant. These along with many other structural factors like them can weigh heavily on a child's mind for one reason or another and affect their ability and desire to learn. Delpit addresses and picks a part of the problem to define and makes a convincing case for but only analyzes part of Gee's "educational Marxism".