Guardian Angels to focus on proper speech
Each chapter of the Guardian Angels is expected to do at least one “campaign” a year. While their main focus is crime and street patrols, the Guardian Angels also focus on other issues affecting the community — and this year they’ve chosen an interesting one: proper speech. From the release:
It’s time to stop accepting improper English being applied by our youth. Phrases like “is they” instead of “are they”, “she do” instead of “she does”, “is you” instead of “are you”, etc. will no longer be tolerated … The next challenge will be for the students to correct their classmates, friends and family when they use improper English … The 2nd part of our campaign will be to take it into the schools. We will challenge the students to speak proper English and correct their family and friends outside of the school to do the same. We hope to stop the teachers from accepting improper English in their classrooms.
The Guardian Angels plan begin this community-wide challenge tonight at their Youth Debate (3007 1st Avenue @ 5pm). The theme will be “The Environment You Live In.”
Didn’t Bill Cosby say this at one time. Just waiting for someone to call this racist. Good for the G.A.s
Kind of reads like an Onion headline…
Oh, dear… well, the people in charge of the local Guardian Angels are black (and very nice). Also, do they actually know that teachers accept improper English in their classrooms? Slang is obviously something that is used outside the workplace and educational environment, but teachers may already enforce correct English at school.
Finally! What a great idea and something that will positively impact every child for the rest of their lives. It’s a reality that people are judged by how they speak and we do our kids a disservice when we don’t teach and reinforce proper language skills. Few other things will sink a job interview faster than a bunch of slang and an inability to communicate effectively.
How other support GA’s wonderful efforts?
I can’t help remembering an Oprah episode my sisters were watching years ago addressing the same subject. It was very interesting to see many educated young black adults being criticized and harrassed for “talking like they’re white” and “acting like they’re white”. Being white has nothing to do with speaking proper english and unfortunately I know plenty of white folk who speak very poorly.
It’s my understanding that most inner city neighborhoods historically have not had many of the resources others may have had available to them so it’s a little more understandable hearing people speak poor english. Still, like they said on that episode of Oprah, “There’s never any reason to not speak intelligently”.
As far as teachers accepting this type of speaking, I feel maybe they overlook it and may even use it themselves as a way of relating to the students better. I’ve actually heard a well respected principle in a nearby elementary school sound totally uneducated while making a graduation speech. Simple words were not only used out of context but also pronounced incorrectly…..especially using the ever popular “ax” instead of “ask”. What kind of example does this send the student body?
I think the point should be* to know the difference between standard English and “Black” English. It’s fine to speak however you like, but not having a command of standard English is just another barrier to success for people that have enough barriers already.
*imho