Delpit explains that some of these differences may be in the different view my children and I have concerning authority. She writes, "Black children expect an authority figure to act with authority. When the teacher instead acts as a 'chum,' the message sent is that this adult has no authority, and the children act accordingly"(1995, p. 35).

In attempting to characterize qualities that black students attribute to a good teacher, Delpit finds that the following quotation supports her experience with black students:

We had fun in her class, but she was mean. She pushed, she used to get on me and push me to know. She made us learn...she was in charge of that class and she didn't let anyone run her (p.37).

Delpit clarifies: "...this student was proud of the teacher's 'meanness,' an attribute he seemed to describe as the ability to run the class" (p.37).

I still believe that the goal for all children is self-discipline. I do not want to train my students for an adult life where they only know what to do if they are given direct instruction. Children of all cultures need to be given real opportunities to think, problem solve, and look to themselves for answers.