LANGUAGE, ETHNICITY, AND EDUCATION

NWAV 33 commemorates the 25th anniversary of the decision in the Ann Arbor Black English Trial. In 1977, several families brought suit against the Ann Arbor School District, arguing that the school system denied their children equal access to an education because the school did not take social, cultural, and economic factors into account in educating African American children. Language figured prominently in the case, and several sociolinguists testified in the trial. In 1979, the judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, thus establishing language as a central concern in education.

We plan to offer several events commemorating this decision, including two panels. The first of these will assemble several participants from the trial and the second will focus on linguists who testified on behalf of the plaintiffs during the trial, as well as two linguists who were involved in the more recent Oakland resolution. We hope you can join us in commemorating this important decision!