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Black English: Steppin Up? Lookin Back

Thoughts on the cultural disrespect inherent in much of the criticism of the Ebonics resolution in Oakland, and the struggles of African Americans to cope with such hostility.

Taking Action Against Disney

The story of one teacher and his students who organized a protest against the Walt Disney Co.’s use of low-wage labor.

Children Can Be Active Citizens of the World

Excerpts from a speech by Craig Kielburger, a student from Canada who has been active in building a campaign against child labor, at the 1996 convention of the American Federation of Teachers.

We Need a New Vision of Teacher Unionism

By Bob Peterson NEA President Bob Chase recently called for teacher unions to shift their priorities and take more responsibility for the quality of teachers and learning environments. This angered some Wisconsin teacher union leaders, who feared he was playing into the hands of anti-union forces. Coverage of the controversy, and thoughts on the emerging social justice” vision of teachers as union members.”

Teacher Unionism

Text of two critical letters to Bob Chase from Wisconsin teacher union leaders.

Standards and Funding

A look at the many issues raised by the growing standards movement. Can it become a mechanism for driving resources to schools that need them most? Or will it narrow the education agenda in the United States and leave poor children even further behind?

How Our Schools Could Be

Excerpts from Meier’s essay in the 1997 book “Transforming Public Education,” in which she explores the effect that top-down reforms have on the development of vibrant schools.

An Introduction from The Guest Editors

Theresa Perry and Lisa Delpit, who guest-edited this issue of Rethinking Schools, provide a brief history of the Ebonics controversy in Oakland and explain what they hope this collection of articles will accomplish.

I ‘on Know why They be Trippin

An essay on the political furor that greeted the Oakland School Board’s resolution on Ebonics, and some of the issues that were glossed over during the noisy national debate that followed.

Holding On To A Language of Our Own

The noted scholar, who has studied the relation between language and culture for the past 25 years, answers questions about the development of African-American language and its connections to contemporary U.S. society.

Ebonics: Myths and Realities

A point-by-point rebuttal to some of the prevailing myths about Ebonics, literacy among African-American children and education.

Tender Warriors

Two books chronicling the lives of the first students of color to attend white-only Southern schools.

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