"People are starting to realize there are marginalizations, but they are still the ones writing the margins" (The Development of Standard English).
We as humans like the idea of others conforming to our opinions. Because, obviously, yours is the best one, right? I know that's how my mind works. Right now, I wish everyone conformed to environmentalist practices because I believe it will help our planet. But, the person next to me might not believe in climate change. We have differing values. In the end, I'm not a dictator. I think that's the argument people may have with reproduction rights. It seems to be an infringement on the separation between religion and state. Are they asking others to conform to their beliefs? But where's the line? We have to come up with laws eventually. Which side does it go to? Shouldn't it go to majority? That's the problem. There will always be a minority. The question is, who has power and who is being represented? The more representation, the more accurate view of public interest, or majority really. Even when it comes to standardized tests, the concept is still there. We want our students to be successful and in order to measure that, we had to create a standard curriculum and testing across the board to be informed on where they stand. But, what if they don't fit those intelligences, those standards? Then what? They won't be successful? They aren't as valued? It's a big internal struggle for me. I can't let the majority of my students be forgotten in order to help those who may not fit that majority, but I cannot give up on the marginalized either. Will there always be margins? Who gets to write them?
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Even though I enjoy my English classes, I will spend hours upon hours in my Education course work. I'm fired up about students. I really am. So, I honestly wasn't sure why I felt such a pull for Medieval Literature in Oxford.
I didn't understand why I wanted to go right into the heart of privilege when I could've been spending my time with children who haven't been given access to education, power, or privilege in a Zambia opportunity. It's here, in Oxford, that I'm starting to understand how privilege even began, meaning white Western privilege. God knew I was struggling with the 'why.' He knew I wasn't going to be able to get past this gap without going back to the beginning of "The Standard." I knew oppression existed. I knew I was part of the privileged. But, I no longer could take anyone else's claims as to why this divide existed until I dove into it for myself. The thing is, it has landed in my lap. I thought, well I guess my heart is telling me to go to Oxford because it's a "me" journey. That has still held true. I also thought it was an opportunity to dig into my expertise to be an English teacher, for me to really become an expert in my field. That has also held true. However, time and time again, my readings about the history of English has come to life in how I understand oppression, how language has played into privileges since the beginning. We see it all the time. Black dialects impact privilege. People with dyslexia are impacted, those with a Spanish accent or someone with a speech impediment. The list goes on. We create a standard because it's easier for our brain, but yet we know it's harmful to those left on the outside of it. I knew my heart was drawn to the history of language for a reason. Language gives us access to power and it started from the dawn of Geoffrey Chaucer who decided what Standard English was going to sound like due to his literary piece, The Canterbury Tales, that served as a bridge between upper and lower classes. The narrative poems were a huge success and timing was everything; he was cited continuously by other writers, making his dialect the desirable one. People with other dialects didn't have a Chaucer to represent them. Thus, a standard is made... It would be completely unfair of me to make the leap from Chaucer to white privilege, but the concept is there. When only one type of dialect, race, religion, sexual orientation, body type, viewpoint is voiced, then oppression thrives. The importance of representation is often pushed to the wayside. "It's not my fault for what I was born with." That goes both ways. And it's not about fault. It's about accepting the fact that we don't understand what it's like to be in each other's shoes unless we listen to lots of different stories. We can't listen to only some. It's important to have representation of many and not just the fantastical ideal standard if we are truly going to be a nation committed to public interest. I am in awe of these architectural wonders that I get to study in. I wonder who built them... I wonder if they were paid... I wonder how many wish they could have gotten an education...
Even though I've been thoroughly enjoying my studies in Oxford about the history of language, I have to realize that I am still shielded from the truth. I have only been able to find two female Medieval Literature writers so far. I have not found any person of color's writing in Middle English. I have to believe that someone out there wrote during that time period. Yet again, think about who was privileged enough to be taught how to read and write in the United Kingdom area. Not very many women. Not very many people of color. Not very many poor people. Not very many Jewish people. Not very many... Not very many... I will always celebrate the process of finding the roots of my language and the roots of communication in general; it impacts how we convey messages and opinions everyday, but as a responsible citizen, I have to be aware of whose stories are left out. Prejudice affects all of the historical findings. “The best safeguard against prejudice is knowledge.” And that, is also why I teach. |
Greetings!I'm Kelly! I like to find beauty in what might seem mundane to us over time and bring to life what we experience each day. Check out the About Me tab for an additional look at who I am. Archives
July 2019
Taking an image, freezing a moment, reveals how rich reality truly is. |