ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 20, 1996 TAG: 9612200028
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: OAKLAND, CALIF.
SOURCE: Associated Press
OAKLAND, CALIF., HAS become the first school district in the nation to recognize Ebonics as the language of many blacks.
Teachers in Oakland's public schools must treat black students who use double negatives or say ``She be at the store'' as speakers of a legitimate language, such as Spanish or Chinese.
So said the Oakland School Board, which unanimously voted Wednesday night to recognize Black English, or ``Ebonics,'' as a second language.
The vote also creates a program to train teachers to understand Black English to help them teach students proper English.
Backers say the district is the first in the nation to recognize Ebonics - a term combining ``ebony'' and ``phonics'' - as the language of many blacks.
Just how the plan will work in the classroom remains to be worked out, but the board is expected to apply for federal funds for bilingual programs to cover the cost of training teachers, even though the government has rejected such requests in the past.
Members say the vote was sparked by the dismal scores posted by black students - who make up 53 percent of the 52,000-student district, but 71 percent of those enrolled in special education courses.
``Whatever we are using now is not working,'' said board member Toni Cook. ``Because someone says `I be' does not mean someone is intellectually deficient.''
School Superintendent Carolyn Getridge insisted: ``It's not a pullout program. It's not about chasing the money.''
Bohdi Kroll, a substitute teacher of English and journalism at Oakland High School, said recognizing Ebonics is ``just recognizing reality,'' since, for many black students, standard English is basically a second language.
``They can understand it, but they don't really speak it,'' he said.
Supporters say the idea is to catch those students who don't fully comprehend mainstream English or tune out because they feel the language of their community is being ignored.
``African-American students do bring a language to the classroom that's different,'' said McClymonds High Principal Willie Hamilton, a member of the task force that recommended the change.
``It's not to have the teachers teach Ebonics. It's to have the teachers understand the language,'' he said. ``It happens with other non-English-speaking or limited English proficient students, and we felt the same should be done for African-American students.''
Critics immediately attacked the approach as patronizing to blacks.
``It is a racist affront against people who have struggled for decades to be a part of the American fiber,'' said Steven Gooden, 30, who is black and served as honorary youth chairman at the Republican National Convention in San Diego. ``This cuts to the heart of the issue, I think, defining us as genetically deprived.''
LENGTH: Medium: 59 linesby CNB