After today’s exercise, I began to really think about and imagine just hard it is in America for children of a different culture.  Just knowing that you’re different, especially when it’s perceived in a negative way, can make you feel less of a person.  And then the possibility of coming into the classroom, which is supposed to be a safe and secure learning environment, and being treated as if you were less of a person by not only your peers but your teacher.  I really thought about what Mr. Dr Williams was saying about stripping them of what they know and are comfortable with and trying to make them something else (American). Telling a child, whether they speak with a Spanish accent or Black English, that they are not allowed to speak the language of their culture is sending the message: If your not like me, your nothing–So get like me! It’s no different than when the Europeans brought slaves from Africa.  We as educators should not strip our children of their own important and long-lived language and say that standard English is the only way to be.  What we should do however, is educate them on the when’s and where’s while building standard English skills.  I use the word building because our reading explained that an effective method would be to build on a language that they’re already comfortable with and just strengthen the skills.  If they can understand that while their language is important and valuable, so is standard English.  Therefore, in places such as school, work, or even talking with strangers standard English is important.  But, they should be free to talk as they will in places such as home, neighborhood, or even church!!  As for people who feel that accents, in particular Spanish, are low status, we just gone have to pray for ‘em