10-24 Code switching

How do we define standard English? Why do we define it that way? As the article that we read for tpday states, how come standard English can't be something that is more inclusive? That contains certain elements of other dialects? Why can't standard English assimilate into other dialects? How come it is always the speakers of a nondominat form of English, that have to assimilate into standard English? Isn't asking some people to learn and use a new dialect, while retaining their primary discourse, while others don't have to, somewhat oppressive to the former group? No matter which way you spin it, teaching Standard English is teaching that this one type of English is "better" than all the rest because that is the only discourse which will be graded in school. I wish this wasn't the case because it automatically sets up a center and a marginalized discourse. I feel like teaching standard English has the potential of silencing different kinds of voices. How should/can standard English be taught so that it can seem no more important than any other dialect of English? How can classrooms be linguistically inclusive? What messages are students getting when their papers are filled with Standard English corrections? How are they going to learn to code switch? How should the idea of code switching be presented to a student when you give them a paper that is covered in red? How can classrooms celebrate other dialects? How can classes critique all English dialects?