quest for info/suggestions. re:dialects

[Anson Olds]

Donald Lance writes:

I suspect that the fact
underlying the myth of homogenization of American dialects is that certain
public-use registers like TV and radio announcing, acting,
professionals-on-the-job, etc are sounding more alike.  Some people, like
English teachers, use this register all the time.

Are we generalizing a little?  I've heard English teachers from all over the
country who use, maintain, and promote their own regional, socio-economic,
and ethnic dialects, even to the point of saying "I seen" instead of "I
saw." Coming from the Midwest, I celebrate my regional dialect differences
with my New England high school students, most of whom are convinced that no
one has dialects any more.  This, in spite of the teachers, students, and
parents around them who still drop their post-vocalic r's etc.   English
teachers are not all cut from the same cookie cutter!

Emily Olds