'Warm Demanders'
"That's enough of your nonsense, Darius. Your story does not make sense. I told you time and time again that you must stick to the theme I gave you. Now sit down." Darius, a 1st grader trying desperately to tell his story, proceeds slowly to his seat with his head hung low. The other children snicker as he looks embarrassed and hurt. What kind of teacher could say such words to a child? Most of us would agree that this teacher would not meet any local or national performance standards and certainly would not pass the rigorous screening to receive certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Ironically, Irene Washington, an African-American teacher with 23 years of experience, is a recognized model teacher in her predominantly African-American school and community. Like thousands of African-American educators across the country, Irene Washington teaches her African-American students with a sense of passion and mission based in the African-American cultural traditions and history she shares with her students. James Vasquez calls these African-American and other teachers of color "warm demanders" who provide a tough-minded, no-nonsense, structured, and disciplined classroom environment for kids whom society has psychologically and physically abandoned. Strongly identifying with their students and determined to give them a future, these teachers believe that culturally diverse children not only can learn but must learn. Descriptions of their work, such as the scene above, are reminiscent of the much-acclaimed teaching style of Marva Collins, the African-American teacher who started her own school in Chicago, and Jaime Escalante, the Hispanic teacher in Los Angeles who produced amazing results with his high school math students.
When asked about the teaching episode with Darius, Irene Washington provides insight into the culturally responsive style she uses: "Oh that little Darius is something else. Now he knows that there are times I will allow them to shoot from the hip. But he knows that this time we're working on themes. You see, you've got to know these students and where they're coming from--you know, 'talk the talk.' He knows what's expected during these activities, but he's trying to play the comedian. I know he knows how to develop a theme, and I won't let him get away...
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