Multiplication is for White People

I actually finished this book (and 36 Children) on-time in terms of my resolution schedule. I just didn't compose a blog post on either (yet) because both books require a 5+ page review for my grad classes. Mutliplication was a required reading for my Methods of Teaching Math & Science course, as it provided a constructivist approaches to instruction and called for some educational reform (against conservative policies and the Common Core). Delpit also wrote Other People's Children before this book, so I may need to pick that one up as well if I want to consider myself competent in education.
Again, this post contains excerpts from my book review.

"Multiplication is for White People": Raising Expectations for Other People's Children by Lisa Delpit

Genre: Non-fiction, Education, Race issues

Publication Date: 2012
Setting: N/A, commentary on education

About the author: Lisa Delpit received her Masters and doctoral degrees from Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

Lisa Delpit makes the case that America’s educational system is not as balanced as it should be. Although we live in a democratic civilization, our educational policy tends to be antidemocratic, full of corporate contributions, unequal distribution of resources, market model schools, and a emphasis on standardized tests that fail to accurately assess minority students’ performance. Delpit organizes her book by addressing issues that arise at different levels of schooling, incorporating societal ills students encounter in elementary school, high school, and college. She details the problems that different students face and supplements by making recommendations on how educators and policymakers may correct the described imbalances. This book can be read as a guide to teaching black children, but it also enlightens the unintentionally ignorant of social issues embedded in our culture.

A minor problem I have with Delpit’s work is her focus on black students and forgoing of other underserved groups. Delpit fails to discuss Hispanics, English Language Learners, Asian minorities, immigrants, and Muslim students. Delpit only briefly speaks of students with special needs, but she does so in reference to her own daughter. She also addresses students of low socioeconomic status, but it appeared that the students being referenced to were poor and black instead of covering all impoverished students of various races. For the sake of time and space, I understand why she focused predominantly on black students, I am just curious about how issues she mentioned (stereotype threat, microaggressions, etc.) might affect students of other backgrounds.

Delpit’s work is meant as a guide for teaching black students,  but also draws on the importance of a student-centered and constructivist classroom as the most effective methods of instruction. I disagree with some of her assertions, such as teacher quality being the ultimate factor in student performance, but consent that a low quality teacher does more harm to students than a high quality teacher does good. I also believe Delpit took a one-sided assault on Teach for America and I remain apprehensive of the true consequences of the program. I accept that students of color likely benefit from having a teacher of color and that, in general, students learn more effectively when they respect and/or relate to their instructor. Arguments aside, Delpit draws attention to unconscious racism present throughout our culture: racial smog in our language, low expectations of students, poor instructional techniques, novice and homogeneous teachers, stereotypes, lack role models, and dismissal of diversity and particular needs. By being aware of such hidden and insidious racism, the reader can confront the issues individually, politically, academically, and socially. One good teacher may not be enough to change an at-risk student’s life, but a wealth of purposeful and impactful individuals may collectively change our society.

DD's rating: C+
Had I not had to write a critical book review, my rating would likely be higher. However, through my analysis, I had to second guess some of her assertions and pick apart her works cited. I also don't expect to be teaching in an urban school, so this book wasn't as influential as it could be. However I believe it has helped me develop some racial competence.

Next read: Yes Please by Amy Poehler