Blog Post 4-Delpit

“The Politics of Teaching Literate Discourse” by Lisa Delpit is composed of some counterarguments to James Paul Gee’s article, “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction and What Is Literacy?”. Throughout Gee’s article, he expresses the struggle of minority or non-dominate students to achieve success through the dominant discourse. He further goes on to explain that it is virtually impossible for someone outside the dominant discourse to become a part of it, since discourses cannot be taught.

However, Delpit refutes some of Gee’s claims in two ways The first being that people outside the dominant discourse will have a hard time getting in. “There are two aspects of Gee’s arguments which I find problematic. First 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). Delpit attempts to disprove this by offering examples of people who have overcome these obstacles and achieved the dominant discourse with high proficiency. She uses the example of a girl named Marge who struggled to get into a doctoral program, but after some assistance from another peer, became the most sought after researcher on her campus. Delpit also states that teachers need to, “...bring to the fore stories of the real people whose histories directly challenge unproductive beliefs” (547). She continues throughout the article to state that teachers are the solution for achieving success.

The second way Delpit challenges Gee’s ideas is through his notion of different values between discourses. “The second aspect of Gee’s work that I find troubling suggests that 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 values” (546-7). Delpit again states that teachers are the solution to this and tells teachers what they must do so that their students can enter the dominant discourse. “First, teachers must acknowledge and validate students’ home language without using it to limit students potential...They must understand that students who appear to be unable to learn are in many instances choosing to ‘not learn’”(553). In addition, Delpit redefines Gee’s notion of values in different discourse. “Acquiring the ability to function in a dominant discourse need not mean that one must reject one’s home identity and values, for discourses are not static, but are shaped, however reluctantly” (552).

It is hard for me to say whether I agree or disagree with Delpit’s opinion since I do not have any life experiences that would validate my opinion. From an outsider looking in to the struggles of people in a non-dominant discourse, I would have to say I agree with Gee more than I agree with Delpit. However, I do not think that it is impossible for someone to achieve the dominant discourse like what Gee believes, merely that it is extremely difficult to obtain. I also think that this whole debate is an issue of nature verse nurture, to which I agree more with the nature side. When I say nature I am not referring to genetics or blood, I am referring to the primary discourse, and the initial teachings from the home. I do believe that it is extremely troubling to be taught one thing from birth and then have someone else who is not a family member tell you otherwise. Consequently, this is sure to be met with resistance from the majority of children. Although Delpit does offer some examples of people from a non-dominant discourse who have successfully entered the dominant one, each one success story is probably met by at least a hundred failures. I am not trying to be pessimistic about non-dominant students, just realistic as to how difficult it is for them and teachers in today’s education system. As much as Delpit stresses that teachers are the solution, I think that community is the solution. A child is raised by his or her community. Although teachers can assist students to achieve success, the values and beliefs taught in school must be reaffirmed by the community for a student to succeed without any remorse. Both Gee and Delpit bring up too many questions about education and literacy for any one person to be able to fully comprehend or begin to explain. There is one thing that is apparent however, which is that something needs to change in the educational system or we all will fail.