In Spanish class, Arthur (the son) mentioned that Cubans speak Spanish faster than anyone; Puerto Ricans come in second. Some of the kids said that was ethnic stereotyping. But it’s not! It’s regional variations in the way language is spoken (and Arthur, who plans on becoming a linguist, is particularly interested in that). I’m a New Yorker; when speaking with my home office in Salt Lake City, I have to make a conscious effort to slow my conversational style. New Yorkers talk faster than those from Utah; that’s not an ‘ethnic slur.’
There’s this thing, called racism. We’re not allowed to do it. We’re not allowed to talk about it. So now kids know that there are words and phrases that are taboo, but they don’t know why, so everything’s taboo, even things that aren’t. No wonder people complain about “PC” language.
We won’t teach about racism. Teach about it? We won’t even examine it and discuss it so that we know what to teach. All we do is point in its general direction and say “DON’T!” And that is so completely useless that kids end up thinking that recognizing speech patterns is somehow oppressive.
like new yorkers speak faster than folks from the south?
its not racist
Exactly. But kids don’t know that it’s not, because we’re afraid to have a conversation about racism. Now they think ANY discussion of difference must be racist. It’s like Harrison Bergeron [sp].