[kidcolin]

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what you originally said was that you don't see how asking people to follow basic rules is enforcing whiteness, is that about right?

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that's a fair interpretation, yes.

Your first paragraph states a good point. In dense urban areas where funding is short and classes are overcrowded, just getting the kids to pay attention can become such a large part of a teacher's focus.

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and i don't think being able to behave appropriately is a bad thing... however i think good classroom manners are needed not as an end, but as a means to teach children critical thinking and writing skills, etc, which is not what is happening

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That's basically my feelings as well. You can't expect anyone to learn jack if a teacher can't get a few minutes of undivided attention. And I don't see how teaching four function math and basic writing skills can be a white culture thing.

edit: And I think "white culture" is a very lazy and potentially dangerous term to use.