Bridging the Culture Gap in Inner-City Schools [microform] : A Summary and Critique of the Approach of Herbert Foster in "Ribbin', Jivin' and Playin' the Dozens." / William Wilbanks
- Bib ID:
- 5415259
- Format:
- Book and Microform
- Author:
- Wilbanks, William
- Description:
-
- [Washington, D.C.] : Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse, 1982
- 14 p.
- Summary:
-
In this paper, William Wilbanks discusses Herbert Foster's "Ribbin', Jivin', and Playin' the Dozens," a book on the relationship between inner city youth and their teachers. The book's title derives from three types of games often played in the classroom: ribbing, a verbal game of taunting other students or the teacher; jiving, which involves manipulative techniques to protect oneself from trouble; and playing the dozens, in which contestants insult one another until one gives up or resorts to violence. According to Wilbanks, Foster's thesis is that in inner-city schools there is a culture gap between largely black, lower class youth and their largely white, middle-class teachers. Students, behaving according to the rules of their streetcorner subculture, constantly play games to test teachers who misinterpret the games as forms of disruptive behavior. Hence, Foster maintains, educational failure is largely due to teachers' inability to understand the students' subculture. Wilbanks criticizes Foster as being rather too critical of the teacher, and as having neglected the students' role in understanding the teachers' perspectives. Moreover, Wilbanks notes that several of Foster's statements are insufficiently explained. Nevertheless, Wilbanks finds Foster's points valuable in understanding not only inner-city students but also criminals and prisoners who play similar games. (Author/MJL)
- Notes:
-
- ERIC Note: In: Woods, Sandra, Ed.; Samuda, Ronald, Ed. Perspectives in Immigrant and Minority Education. Washington, D.C., University Press of America, 1982. Paper presented at Perspectives on Urban Education: An Invitational Symposium (North Miami, FL, June 1, 1982).
- May also be available online. Address as at 14/8/18: https://eric.ed.gov/
- Reproduction:
- Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.
- Subject:
- Genre/Form:
- Available From:
- ERIC
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
You may copy under some circumstances, for example you may copy a portion for research or study. Order a copy through Copies Direct to the extent allowed under fair dealing. Contact us for further information about copying.
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Literary Dramatic Musical
- Published status:
- Published
- Publication date:
- 1982
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
Request this item
Request this item to view in the Library’s reading room.
Feedback
Similar items
- An Evaluation of "Point" [microform] : A Program for the Orientation and Induction of New Teachers
- Tenure Under Attack [microform] : Myth and Fact in the Tenure Debate / Robert R. Sherman
- The effects of nonverbal behavior on performance and attitudes in the college classroom [microform]
- Teacher Tenure. The Second Report of the Commission on Public School Personnel Policies in Ohio [microform]
- Role relationships of student teachers and cooperating teachers in the practicum in Papua New Guinea [microform]