We Are Cowards

I use and promote input based methods, including TPRS, in part because I want to attack the Achievement Gap in our nation’s schools.
I never want to let too much time go by on this blog without mentioning the best possible use of input based methods I can think of – slashing the throat of the Achievement Gap. 
I am talking about the unconscionable dividing of communities along economic and cultural lines that results not only from a century long failure to allocate education funds equitably, but also a kind of stupidity in how we choose to teach our kids languages.
 
Let’s be clear on this. Input based methods can dismantle the white female dominated AP classroom. Input based methods can dismantle the Achievement Gap! (Search that term in the search function on the lower right of this page for more rants on this topic.)
Input based methods work to create inclusion of all students in our classrooms, not just the privileged usually white kids who have been raised in suburban schools that get more funding. How much more funding?
Just look at the libraries of suburban schools. I can’t remember the numbers, but Dr. Krashen has shown some incredible disparities. It’s like for every kid in a suburban school there are about 35 books per kid, but in urban inner city school libraries there is like 0.4 books per kid. Something sick like that.
And we expect those kids from the inner city school libraries to match intellectual wits with the suburban kids? Are we going to pretend that, if kids are being underserved by state funds, there is no problem?
Therefore, if racism exists in America in one of its favorite hiding places (favorite because we let it stay in our school buildings because all we ever do is talk about it and never actually do anything concrete about it), must we then not give all of our attention to making certain that we teach in ways that address this?
The Achievement Gap – predominently white kids taking AP classes and getting into colleges at a higher rate, CAN be slashed at – a chunk taken out of it –  if we but turn our attention to input based instructional methods in foreign languages.
We have a way to dismantle the AG in foreign language education. If what I say here is is true, and if we don’t act consciously and together to this end, and stop with all the bullshit talking that is getting us nowhere, then we are cowards.