Thank you for reading my article. I am glad that it was engaging enough for you to make a response.

Sadly, I cannot agree with your response, because it is based on an understanding of my piece that is unfounded. Advocating for a pedagogy of hope that may build a community of learner-teachers/teacher-learners in which all participants make a contribution is so far removed from the so-called Ivory Tower that it is hard for me to fathom that you were responding to my article. Further, what I advocate for in the piece is a program, based in writing center theory and practice (which you do not even acknowledge, by the way) that is participatory, dialogic, and collaborative--the very characteristics of democracy.

I do not think that what I have to say will end all ills in the academy, not the least of which is racism. But I do not believe what I have written is antithetical to a diverse, multicultural community of learners that may help us to sustain our democracy.

Bill, I encourage you to re-read the piece to try to see these points.

Sincerely,

Al DeCiccio, author of "Can the Writing Center Reverse the New Racism?"

Why is it when Blacks who actually come from Africa---on average--- achieve much higher levels of education and success than Native born American Blacks who've never been on the African continent---yet call themselves (the very confusing term) African American? I submit that there are a class of Education Theorists and other academics who thrive on making
life miserable for Blacks attending US K-12 schools then pontificating about 'RACISM.'

Example: Since 1993 I've been asking Dems, Reps, BoE members this simple question to find out these people's true agendas:

"Choice A: You have the power and taxpayer money to send a poor Black kid to a violent, academically inferior Government Public School for $10,000/yr/child using a taxpayer paid education voucher.

OR Choice B: You have the power and taxpayer money to send that same poor Black kid to a nurturing, academically superior Private or Parochial School for $5,000/yr/child using a taxpayer paid education voucher.

To which school would you send that poor Black kid?"

Most BoE members (Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Schools, etc...) most academics (et tu?), most Commies, Dems, Libs select the violent, academically inferior Government Public Schools over the much cheaper, academically superior, nurturing Private or Parochial Schools.

THEN use these poor, ill-educated Blacks as political cannon fodder.

Justify yourselves.

Bill Bryan
EducationChoiceActivist@yahoo.com

PS. This 'Reply' format leaves out the ability to send my missive to
my email or other websites.