Richard Rodriguez response

While reading Rodriguez's article, I couldn't help but be completely unable to relate to it. Growing up in a town and a school setting where white students were the majority and anyone who spoke Spanish could fluently speak English as well, the only exposure I got to different languages was in separate classes. The classes offered were Spanish, Italian or French from grades 7-12. We were told that the younger we learn a second language the easier it is to retain. Rodriguez agrees in the first paragraph that his first grade classmates could have become bilingual, or in his words know another "public language." When Rodriguez discusses the loss of using old Spanish words by stating that they would be "too painful reminders of how much had changed in my life" (Rodriguez 39), this reminds me that of the idea of Lisa Delpit's "culture of power". Rodriguez had his power within the classroom decreased, comparing his relationship with teachers to be less frightening and more comforting. 

Points to Share: When Rodriguez told how the Nuns came into his home and instructed their parents to encourage the speaking of English at home, I was shocked. I hope now in our education systems that hiring teachers who speak multiple languages and can assist the students that need so will become one of the highest priorities. I will be assistant teaching in an ESL classroom for my Inspiring Minds placement and all of the students speak one to two other languages, and are either fluent in English as well or just familiar with it. Either way, I feel having a classroom for all these students to learn and grow together will do wonders for them from not only an educational standpoint, but will increase social skills as well. Making students comfortable in a classroom and letting them know their languages and cultures are equally important to one another is a big deal.