"Multiplication Is for White People"

This book was my Thanksgiving Break homework, and I have to say it was eye-opening. I've attended lot of professional develpment, staff meetings, and and seminars centering around closing the achievement gap, but Delpit not only presented my with new perspectives and data, she also challenged the data I'd held as foundational.

Some of the breakthrough thoughts: the negative effects of desegregation in that it nearly eliminated educational and administration positions from black people, replacing them with young, inexperienced white teachers who generally were just looking for ways to not teach their anymore.

The fact that Teach for America and programs like it replaces primarily minority teachers with non-teachers unconnected to their students' culture or community and only sticking around for 2-3 years.

The idea of “language poverty” as a cultural construction rather than an actual educational deficit.

There's tons of less revolutionary (for me at least) ideas too, mainly concerning students of all colors identifying with their teachers and school communities to see ways in which they can be successful in places that value their unique perspectives and abilities. Delpit is extremely ability-focused which is always a nice change of pace from a lot of staff meetings. Reading this book definitely inspired me to look more closely at my teaching and speaking styles, at what I'm asking my children to do and how else they can demonstrate their mastery. Highly recommended to teachers working outside their home culture.