On December 18, 1996, the local school board in Oakland, California proposed
using Ebonics as a new approach to teaching standard English to black children in
its schools. The Oakland School Board proposed to make the language spoken by
children at home to be recognized as a distinct primary language, separate from
English. The board felt that the teachers could relate to the children better
if the faculty understood the childrens' home language. This proposal has been met with
much controversy. In fact, it has received interest and attention nation-wide.
