Work Cited:
Staff, ICTMN. "Indian Country Today Media Network." Student Suspended for Speaking Native American Language. 7 February 2012. Web. 27 February 2015.
Staff, ICTMN. "Indian Country Today Media Network." Student Suspended for Speaking Native American Language. 7 February 2012. Web. 27 February 2015.
There was an article that my friend showed me last semester which I thought was related to the topic of this class, and closely to Motha’s essay. Since Motha is directing her written work towards the audience of teachers, specifically ESL/ESOL teacher, I though this article, “Student Suspended for Speaking Native American Language,” would be a good way to see the type of teaching that has perpetuated language divide. Miranda was a twelve-year old girl who attended Sacred Heart Catholic Academy which is locate in Wisconsin. When she was teaching a fellow classmate some words in her native language her teacher got mad at her and asked “would you like it if I spoke in Polish and you didn’t understand” (Staff, 2012). For words that translated to “hello” and “I love you” from “posoh” and “ketapanen” she was suspended and benched from the school (Staff, 2012). I was amazed that this level of discrimination still happens. I know when I was in elementary school and middle school I was made fun of and even the teachers would sometimes act indifferent towards me. However, I did not experience anything on the scale Miranda did. Since English teaching should be “a neutral enterprise or even benevolent one,” (Motha, xxi) it is a surprise that language discrimination still exists. The fear of letting your native language out is represented through Miranda, if one does not abide by the rules there are repercussions or a consequence unjust as Miranda’s suspension. For Motha’s question: “To what degree are we called upon to be conscious and mindful of potential mishaps,…” (Motha, 18), I feel as if this case is a great example of where the disconnect between students and teachers may happen. This instance is where teachers should have consciousness and be aware that this method perpetuates the desire for some students to cast away their native language or perfect their new language so there is no trace of their old. The article is incomplete in that it does not tell us what the school did to right this wrong. My question would be of how this can be addressed or resolved in the teaching arena, as Motha points out there have been strides towards eliminating this type of discrimination. However, I argue that the world is not aware of this discrimination. When I tell others of my experiences in ESOL classes they are surprised, when I tell them how I was made fun of or bullied in school because of the way I talked they seem to think I am exaggerating on some cases. Even in the article I linked the whole story was not told. There are unanswered questions on whether the teacher still works there, if they are taking steps to grow their educational system, and how Miranda was handled after this wrong doing. There has to be more awareness in our country because I believe a lot of people honestly do not know.