Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Deviance: Is Bill Cosby Right?

Know: The concerns of Bill Cosby for young black men
Understand: Bill Cosby's theory of deviance
Be able to do: Code the text of Bill Cosby's Speech

Homework: Read Michael Eric Dyson's Chapter "Classrooms and Cell Blocks." Have an online discussion answering the question: Is Bill Cosby right? (you could raise comments from the Socratic Seminar)

Step 1: Schema

Step 2: Read Bill Cosby's Comments from page 57 - 60. While reading, underline what you think Bill Cosby is RIGHT about and circle what Bill Cosby is WRONG about.

Step 3: Socratic Seminar

Step 4: Develop Bill Cosby's Theory of Deviance

Step 5: Listen to comments on NPR from Bill Cosby and Michael Eric Dyson





2 comments:

Dijon said...

To be honest based solely on his speech i would say that Bill Cosby is right when he cam to the conclusion that the black community is doing poorly. Both students and parents should be trying harder to insure that their students are doing better in school, and succeeding. Like our current president said, you basically cant make excuses as why you don't take your education seriously. these parents and students should be again trying harder to make sure they are not apart of that 50% of black students that drop out of school, and in turn ruin the rest of their lives.
I think that this article was a little bias towards bill Cosby, because it basically did not show any good pieces of evidence that would support Bill Cosby. basically through the whole chapter it was bashing Bill Cosby, and basically calling him a hypocrite. this was because bill Cosby was one of those kids that was apart of the 50% of students that dropped out.
Even though Bill Cosby was one of the Bad kids he spoke about, that does not mean that his message should have any less of a meaning. his massage is still real and has a good message for people in the Black Community.

Anonymous said...

I think the majority of his speech, despite how shocking and a little rough around the edges, was very true and very good information. Students need to try harder and find goals that they strive to reach, and parents need to encourage and make school a priority. Parents need to show kids that a life without an education is not a fruitful one. It is hard, and it is painful. 50% of black students find this out the hard way by dropping out of high school and choosing to live a hard, long life. When you are constantly focused on paying the already overdue bills and taking care of your children, it cannot be considered living. I think the fact that that Cosby was one of the bad teenagers makes his message all the more potent. It shows people that he is not a detached voice commanding them to do better. He was in the same situation, and he worked to get out of it.
-Emily