Blog #2: Lisa Delpit Quote

Lisa Delpit's quote, “We do not really see with our eyes or hear through our ears, but through our beliefs,” is something I believe teachers need to ponder. What I think she means by this quote, is that our beliefs really depend on perceptions and our experiences in the world. Everyone’s view of the world will be different because everyone’s experiences in the world have been different. Just a few experiences such as social class, home life, and education could all be factors that affect people’s perceptions and therefore their beliefs. People from two different social classes will view situations in different ways. I think this is significant because it means that every student will learn and see things in different ways. Knowing this will help a teacher to know how to cater to their student’s different needs. All children's needs are different, so it is essential to know where they come from and how they think or perceive things. A teacher’s goal should be to get to know their students right off the bat, in order to ensure the best year possible for their students. I believe Lisa Delpit’s quote is relevant to Bill Ayers book as well because Bill Ayers also says in his book, To Teach, that it is important to get to know your students. This is one of the main points that he makes, as well as the point that you need to know yourself in order to teach your students the best. Your perceptions will be different than your students, and you need to know how to relate to them to the best of your ability.