Sep 28 2008
Should we, can we express opinions?
If, when, and how should a teacher express social and political opinions in his or her classroom?
Do you answer questions when students ask you directly?
Do you try to spur debate by telling students who your candidate is?
Do you try to spur higher level thinking in students’ minds by explaining your decision-making process in relation to a social and political issues?
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I cannot answer this question directly from experience since I teach in early primary education but I can give you my kids experiences from their high school classes. The students in our small high school knew some of their teachers political beliefs and the reasons why. It was brought up in classes that it was appropriate to discuss. The students were asked to think about, pick a topic and then debate each other about current issues in the world. The teachers job was to bring up things that the students may not have thought of-consequences to others(individuals, countries, and society as a whole). It is also very important to teach students about the political parties and in a historical sense what has come about in this country because of them.
Balance(speaking about both sides positively) is the key when discussing politics in an educational setting. I personally think that a teacher should discuss politics but explain why you believe as you do and that these beliefs are your own. We live in a democracy after all.
~Heidi
Heidi-
“Balance(speaking about both sides positively) is the key when discussing politics in an educational setting.”
I think if one can’t do that, then no ‘treating of the matter’ should probably take place because it isn’t really a discussion.
-Skip
I usually don’t tell my students who I am voting for because up until I vote, I really don’t know. I like to read about, listen to, and research the candidates up until the last possible moment. Of course that is because usually I don’t feel like I am going to pick the best candidate but more like I’m picking the lesser of the two evils. I try to teach my students the process that I go through. I do like for them to pick sides and encourage them to support their decisions with facts from their research. I want them to see that they need to make an informed decision and not just go along with what everyone else says “just because.”
Yes, we can express our opinions. We can share our views and opinions with the students up to a level only. We can share all the social and political views with the students.
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Michel
Business Sales