“Language doesn’t cause oppression; it is the views around language that does.” Hidy Basta
While we at The HUB work to ensure writers feel safe and welcome in our writing center, we also recognize that instructors ultimately dictate the classroom culture in which students write. Therefore, it is also the responsibility of faculty members to ensure that students feel safe and welcome in their classrooms, so we urge faculty to consider the ways in which they may privilege students from certain linguistic backgrounds in their classrooms.
There are many different ways of writing, and The HUB does not operate to uphold discriminatory linguistic standards. This means, among other things, that we are not strictly an editing service. Rather, we focus our conversations on helping writers to meet self-defined writing goals and encouraging their autonomy over their texts and learning.
Oftentimes, we hear from students that they feel dejected because, despite their best efforts, their writing is not seen as good enough. This judgment of their writing is often based on a standard of perfection that suggests the existence of only one English. Hence, we encourage faculty to consider their grading systems carefully, reflecting on whether or not the system is equitable to students coming from a variety of linguistic backgrounds.
To help answer questions that may arise from this reflection, and to learn more about the foundation behind our principles at The HUB, please see the “Additional Resources” section below.
Additional Resources
The Impact of Linguistic Bias in Education
The Myth of Linguistic Homogeneity in U.S. College Composition
