Comments on: Ruby Payne Discussion http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/12/28/ruby-payne-discussion/ ...For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:45:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tony Pang http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/12/28/ruby-payne-discussion/comment-page-1/#comment-15783 Tony Pang Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:38:53 +0000 http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/?p=2801#comment-15783 I just read Ruby Payne's book, Understanding Poverty. I noticed she classifies people into behavior groups based on income. She assumes that people in certain income brackets will behave and learn certain ways based on their environment and a need to survive in that setting. I think some of the characteristics in her hidden rules among classes are very true, but she seems to assume every individual within that income brakcet will learn and behave the same way. My problem with her book is that she is sterotyping. She is assuming that if you're poor, then this is how you will behave and learn. But I have met students who are poor and rich whose behavior do not fall into her hidden rules among classes. I just read Ruby Payne’s book, Understanding Poverty. I noticed she classifies people into behavior groups based on income. She assumes that people in certain income brackets will behave and learn certain ways based on their environment and a need to survive in that setting. I think some of the characteristics in her hidden rules among classes are very true, but she seems to assume every individual within that income brakcet will learn and behave the same way. My problem with her book is that she is sterotyping. She is assuming that if you’re poor, then this is how you will behave and learn. But I have met students who are poor and rich whose behavior do not fall into her hidden rules among classes.

]]> By: ms_teacher http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/12/28/ruby-payne-discussion/comment-page-1/#comment-3574 ms_teacher Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:52:17 +0000 http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/?p=2801#comment-3574 Over the years of my teaching career (8 and counting) I've been told by more than a few colleagues that I absolutely should read Ruby Payne. I'm all for learning about ways that will improve my practice, however, before purchasing her book, I decided to see what was out there on the web. There was much I didn't like and I came away really feeling like Payne may be causing more harm than good. I agree with you that we do need to come up with something that will counter-balance the influence she has had. Over my 8 years of teaching at the same middle school is the same troubled urban district, I have seen many well-meaning teachers leave. Their thought when they walk through the doors does come from a mostly white middle class (mostly liberal) background in that they feel they are their to "save the children." These teachers are quickly disillusioned because they honestly believe that the students should respond to their well-intentioned approaches. This is the thing that I absolutely know for sure as a white teacher teaching in a highly diverse school. My students expect me to respect them and to treat them with dignity. They expect that if I say something that I will follow through and they know that while I may be "tough," I care about them and their success deeply. Over the years of my teaching career (8 and counting) I’ve been told by more than a few colleagues that I absolutely should read Ruby Payne. I’m all for learning about ways that will improve my practice, however, before purchasing her book, I decided to see what was out there on the web.

There was much I didn’t like and I came away really feeling like Payne may be causing more harm than good. I agree with you that we do need to come up with something that will counter-balance the influence she has had.

Over my 8 years of teaching at the same middle school is the same troubled urban district, I have seen many well-meaning teachers leave. Their thought when they walk through the doors does come from a mostly white middle class (mostly liberal) background in that they feel they are their to “save the children.” These teachers are quickly disillusioned because they honestly believe that the students should respond to their well-intentioned approaches.

This is the thing that I absolutely know for sure as a white teacher teaching in a highly diverse school. My students expect me to respect them and to treat them with dignity. They expect that if I say something that I will follow through and they know that while I may be “tough,” I care about them and their success deeply.

]]> By: Elona Hartjes http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/12/28/ruby-payne-discussion/comment-page-1/#comment-3572 Elona Hartjes Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:14:01 +0000 http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/?p=2801#comment-3572 Larry, Thanks for the link to this discussion. It's really sad that so many people continue to blame the victims. I can do many things in my classroom to support my students, but I can't do it all. I know everyone is probably sick of the expression "It takes a village to raise a child", but it's so true. It is a partnership. I agree with you. Perhaps the leaders of the village need to redirect some of that bailout money elsewhere-health care, housing, education etc. Larry,
Thanks for the link to this discussion. It’s really sad that so many people continue to blame the victims. I can do many things in my classroom to support my students, but I can’t do it all. I know everyone is probably sick of the expression “It takes a village to raise a child”, but it’s so true. It is a partnership. I agree with you. Perhaps the leaders of the village need to redirect some of that bailout money elsewhere-health care, housing, education etc.

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