I think it's helpful to try and read and understand something before having such a strong reaction to it. "Whiteness" is very different than "people who are white". It is easy to google Dr. Gerard and find examples of his writings and ideas: https://jpbgerald.com
The idea of decentering whiteness is essentially recognizing the reality that our industry tends to assume in explicit and implicit ways that white native speakers are the model of good English. And of course the reality is the vast majority of English speakers are neither white nor native.
One explicit way this hurts our industry is that teachers of color, despite being qualified, even those born and raised in the US or the UK, are often not hired abroad, even when ads call for native speakers. Of course, "native" speaker usually excludes countries like India, Singapore, Ghana, Nigeria, Vanuatu and other nations where English is an official or unofficial national language and taught and used widely.
Another subtle way it can influence ESL/EFL teaching is the way models of speech in textbooks often reflect a very particular brand of English as correct, one that comes partly from that flat mid-Western news anchor accent and partly from artificial "educated" accents like Mid-Atlantic. Realities of multi-lingual life, including code switching and grammar that didn't come from attempts to make English more like Latin are not even acknowledged let alone taught. And varieties of English used in international and global settings, such as English spoken in India, Singapore, and other countries where English is essentially a native or first language are discounted, or seen as substandard.
As a materials writer, I've been quite shocked when asked to write materials for ESLs about historic events but not to mention race. How does one write about Chinese immigrants during the Gold Rush without mentioning the prejudice they experienced including the Immigration Exclusion Act? How does one write about the 60s without mentioning Civil Rights? Why is it assumed that when we teach about the US to our international students we tell events from the point of view of white Americans only?
It is interesting that when I worked for a global scholarship abroad, many students didn't want to go to New Mexico because they felt it was probably full of Mexicans. And if I had a dollar for every time I had a parent ask if X or Y university had real Americans only or were there blacks, Asians, Hispanics there too, I'd be a millionaire!
I for one would love to get training and hear different perspectives on this issue and in my view it's 90% white people discussing issues of diversity and inclusion and equity out there, so hearing a well-known, respected scholar discuss these issues seems like a wonderful opportunity. Dr. Gerard has spoken at a number of events, written a great deal of articles, and so far I've yet to hear him suggest that white people are an actual pathology. I think it's important we are open to different points of view and learn but there's no obligation for you to attend this event.
Best,
Walton
------------------------------
Walton Burns
Freelance Writer
Senior Editor, Alphabet Publishing
www.waltonburns.comwww.alphabetpublishingbooks.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 20-09-2022 01:54 PM
From: Allison Widmann
Subject: Antisocial Language Teaching: English and the Pervasive Pathology of Whiteness
Hi All,
Am I the only person who finds this topic objectionable? Regardless of what language our students speak, to me it is inexcusable and outright offensive to persons of all races, particularly White, to teach about the "...Pervasive Pathology of Whiteness." I am reporting this to the moderator of this forum in hopes that this post, and whatever message the person hosting it is sending, will be deleted as a violation of the rules of this forum.
In peace and tolerance of everyone,
Allison
------------------------------
Allison Widmann, MSW, MPP, Certified TESOL
ESL Teacher
Language and Literacy, LLC
United States
Original Message:
Sent: 20-09-2022 11:40 AM
From: Andrea Lypka
Subject: Antisocial Language Teaching: English and the Pervasive Pathology of Whiteness
We are honored to have Dr. JPB (Justin Pierce Baldwin) Gerald host the #icis_tesol #webinar #interculturalcommunication
Join us on Wednesday, October 12 at 12:00 PM EST for "Antisocial Language Teaching: English and the Pervasive Pathology of Whiteness."
------------------------------
Andrea Lypka
University of South Florida
United States
------------------------------