Book cover image

 

With Literacy and Justice for All: Rethinking the Social in Language and Education. third ed.


Carole Edelsky (2006) Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. NJ.
ISBN # 0-8058-5508-4

The book, With Literacy and Justice for All: Rethinking the Social in Language and Education by Carole Edelsky explains how culture can be a major barrier to developing a passion for reading. As you read Edelsky I hope you will be struck by her continual blasting of Cummins and all the references to second language learners. I was, so I stopped reading it and checked out - J. Cummins, read a couple of articles, and finally his book Language, Power, and Pedagogy: Bilingual children in the crossfire. (see references in notes for the book). After reading his book I understood what he was saying, but I could also see something I think in Edelsky’s book, With Literacy and Justice for All: Rethinking the Social in Language and Education that went beyond Cummins's ideas. So I went back to finish it. Since I had only gotten through the first four chapters I decided to start over in light of what I know knew what Cummins wrote. I found what Cummins wrote (see my notes on his ideas) was reasonable in a traditional sense, however Edelsky's complaints about Cummins’s work I think are accurate. I do not believe she misrepresented his ideas. Since that time Cummins has updated his ideas. It is this kind of discourse that is beneficial for all as it moves us forward in our understanding.

As I completed the book I saw clearly the value, concern, and urgency with which she writes. The relationships that must be understood if literacy is to be achieved by all. After a review of Cummins I was convinced some variables, which seemed insignificant and easily over looked, are indeed imperative to consider when discussing literacy development and academic success. The relationship of second language learning to literacy, whole language, and the need of the inclusion of social transactions in any definition of reading and writing and literacy for all learners is necessary. My experiences better helped me understood Edelsky’s passion and desire to have everyone understand her messages. For without this understanding we can not succeed in facilitating literacy for large numbers of our students at a level I believe we all desire. I am convinced it is imperative we understand the messages within this book if we are to advance literacy. So her book offers great insight for the second goal.

She throws a lot of vocabulary and acronyms into her writing so I encourage you to have a dictionary handy ( I love my electronic dictionary /thesaurus Widgett) and a cheat sheet to write notes for them (see the book related links on the bilingual page). Post any question you have about a word or two or more on the discussion board so that we can help each other. The information that I have linked for Cummins I also found helpful as a handy reference.

If you are familiar with other resources that might any of the texts I selected, I would appreciate your sharing them with us.

Thanks.

Dr. Robert Sweetland's Notes ©