THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997 TAG: 9701240547
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 76 lines
A panel of educators decried teaching ``Ebonics'' in the classroom during a student-organized forum held Thursday at Elizabeth City State University.
``There is nothing wrong with respecting your culture, but you must learn standard English to succeed in this country,'' said Velma Brown, chairwoman of ECSU's Language, Literature and Communications Department. ``No, I don't think Ebonics should be taught in high schools or middle schools.''
About 50 students packed a small classroom on the ECSU campus to discuss the issue of teaching Ebonics in public schools.
A national furor arose when a school board in Oakland, Calif., approved a resolution in December regarding the use of Ebonics, or Black English.
The school board later clarified its position to say teachers would learn Ebonics so they could better communicate with the black students.
Discussion over the ethics, feasibility and cost of the idea have flooded the media.
``Every radio station I found between here and Charlotte was talking about the issue of Ebonics,'' said Trina Y. Payne, an ECSU senior who proposed and helped organize the local forum. ``I wanted people to be aware in case it did come here.''
Payne reflected the view of the five-person panel, which included ECSU Chancellor Mickey Burnim.
``I don't really see the necessity of teaching someone slang,'' said Payne. ``Every student uses some form of slang.''
One student asked Burnim if he intended to teach Ebonics at ECSU.
``Our mission is to prepare leaders,'' said Burnim. ``It's incumbent upon us to teach the most accepted means of communication.''
He said standard English is the language that will help students get good jobs and reach positions of influence.
Students in the classroom erupted in applause when an ECSU administrator not on the panel spoke her strong opinion.``We are in America, and we should learn to speak standard English,'' said Annie Hedgebeth, coordinator of the Center for Special Needs Students at ECSU. ``Someone said to me, `You know, Mrs. Hedgebeth, po' people speak po' English.' ''
Then Hedgebeth directed her comments to the audience. ``Remember, students. English is your passport.''
In 1973, Dr. Robert Williams combined ``ebony'' and ``phonics'' to coin the term Ebonics for Black English. Scholars disagree on where the dialect originated.
According to background information handed out at the local forum, Ebonics is a modified English first spoken by black slaves in America and passed along to their children. Another theory proposes Ebonics is a combination of English, Portuguese and African languages.
One student saw the Oakland School System's attempt to reach out to poorly performing black students as condescending.
``Is this just a reason not to master the English language, which will keep them from getting a good job?'' the student said.
One panel member, Dr. C.C. Jones, head of ECSU's honors program, urged caution about any school system taking on Ebonics.
``I think we have to be careful as educators to rush to embrace something that's a little bit new,'' said Jones. ``I think you are rushing to the ridiculous. I don't think you are bilingual if you speak Ebonics. Ebonics is our own black flavor we have given to English.''
The forum was organized by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Delta Theta Chapter at ECSU. Lisa Battle, an ECSU student, moderated the forum.
Panel members included Burnim, Jones, Brown, Dr. Lois Greene, interim director of education at ECSU, and Dr. G. Griffin, an English professor at ECSU. Tamara Hedgebeth, an ECSU student, introduced the panel and helped organize the forum. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
IN OAKLAND
A national furor arose when a school board in Oakland, Calif.,
approved a resolution in December regarding the use of Ebonics, or
Black English.
The school board later clarified its position to say teachers would
learn Ebonics so they could better communicate with the black
students.