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[quote=Anonymous]Black Former Ward 8 DCPS Teacher Here,

While this topic has the potential for racism and classism, a lot of teachers wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. I remember reading about "African American Vernacular" in college, and I find it offensive to suggest that the broken English, mumbling, and slurring of words fits that category. We don't teach our students to "talk white," but we do expect them to speak clearly and enunciate.

"You got me guh" is not AAVE; it's slang and inappropriate for professional settings. Many of our students grow up in homes and areas where this is all they hear, so they are unprepared for the workplace. I don't chastise or belittle them for the way that they talk, but I do teach them alternative, professionally appropriate ways to communicate the same message. Call it "Codeswitching 101." I hold them to that standard as the year progresses.

I appreciate everyone who is trying to be culturally sensitive, but when you step into a room full of ninth graders and every other word is a curse word or slang, you quickly recognize that something is wrong. The peculiar thing is that a lot of them don't even understand that expletive-laden dialogue with a teacher or administrator is wrong. They will sit there and plead that they aren't disrespecting you. "What you mean, Bob? ("Bob" is a general pronoun, not a person's name) I'm just talking! I ain't even say nothing to disrespect you like that."

P.C. has its limits. [/quote]

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