Well done! THIS is what teaching is about ... and what many critics of teachers do not understand about education: If teachers indoctrinate kids at all it is into the philosophy of CRITICAL THINKING.
The head of the History Department at my small New England liberal arts college often proclaimed he was there to "teach students to THINK"....what a concept!
Profound and thoughtful, thank you. In my view it is really history that is largely avoided for it is the story of humanity and in many instances inhumanity, here, there and everywhere. Had the 24/7 news hour cycle existed in past conflicts most of us would have been sickened by the videos and stories. Maybe someday your students can rise above it all and lead humanity out of the abyss?!?
This is a topic I'm avoiding like the plague, and don't envy educators at the moment. Teachers get called out out for stuff that when taken out of context can be troublesome. And a lot of times the context of said statement becomes immaterial. You and your academic spirit animal came up with a well-thought plan. We don't usually discuss politics in my office, but there have been statements made that it's not a good time to be Jewish. While I agree, I bite my tongue, because it's not a good time to be a Palestinian, either. That being said, whenever I find myself having to talk about it, I answer with "I'm #teamhuman." There are bad actors on both sides, and as such, I will not support neither. I support human life, and cannot cosign, in any way, shape, or form, the human collateral damage.
Please remember Russian aggression too. In Syria and Ukraine they've bombed hospitals, schools, orphanages with little to no outrage by the U.N. and other governments.
It sounds like it was a valuable discussion. Word choice certainly sends subliminal messages. But also good move to navigate the topic cautiously and with respect.
This whole situation is so disturbing and horrific, on both sides. From a distance, it all angers me that (mostly) men in charge quickly resort to violence to settle their disputes. Women, children, men, pets, (CHILDREN for heaven's sake!)....all suffer for it.
The every day people want to have opportunities to raise their families in safe, healthy places where they can thrive. It certainly is possible to make that happen for that region for both Israelis and Palestinians. The entire point of creating the state of Israel, as I understand it, was to provide a safe-haven for persecuted Jews from across the globe, especially post WWII. And they, as well as anyone, should have compassion for the Palestinian people who also want a safe place to raise their families. And yet, there has been a long string of violence. It serves no one and neither side seems to want to stop. The hate across the sides has only escalated and no one sees an end to it. And then it ripples across the globe in an awful way.
This is the most heartening story I've read in a long time. That the student asked, that the students wanted, that they engaged their analytical and dialectic skills.
And very importantly your approach. I think you were not only wise but right not to determine that you shouldn't make the occasion, and both brilliant and right not to rule it out when your student asked.
(And you may not know my ethnic background, but that's cool. Others don't, as well and we were discouraged from discussing it. I am culturally familiar with spirit animals.)
Nuance has few champions these days; self-reflection and self-awareness even fewer, I think. Systems of power as complex as we have made them hide behind curtains of simplistic rhetoric. The "great and powerful Oz" is almost always a set of rich, insecure, mostly-men. Perhaps you should offer such classes to the general public. I would attend for sure.
Would have loved to have seen the white board. Too often people think they have to start a discussion with answers, jumping to conclusions before the details and questions are clear. Thoughts and ideas about a topic, collected without judgement and so everyone can contribute, are like puzzle pieces. You spill them out on the table and sort them out together.
LOVE THIS! If only civil society could have discussions like that ( and then MAYBE elected officials, but I'm reaching here ...)
Well done! THIS is what teaching is about ... and what many critics of teachers do not understand about education: If teachers indoctrinate kids at all it is into the philosophy of CRITICAL THINKING.
Not what to think, but how to think.
The head of the History Department at my small New England liberal arts college often proclaimed he was there to "teach students to THINK"....what a concept!
Profound and thoughtful, thank you. In my view it is really history that is largely avoided for it is the story of humanity and in many instances inhumanity, here, there and everywhere. Had the 24/7 news hour cycle existed in past conflicts most of us would have been sickened by the videos and stories. Maybe someday your students can rise above it all and lead humanity out of the abyss?!?
They look to be doing just that.
This is a topic I'm avoiding like the plague, and don't envy educators at the moment. Teachers get called out out for stuff that when taken out of context can be troublesome. And a lot of times the context of said statement becomes immaterial. You and your academic spirit animal came up with a well-thought plan. We don't usually discuss politics in my office, but there have been statements made that it's not a good time to be Jewish. While I agree, I bite my tongue, because it's not a good time to be a Palestinian, either. That being said, whenever I find myself having to talk about it, I answer with "I'm #teamhuman." There are bad actors on both sides, and as such, I will not support neither. I support human life, and cannot cosign, in any way, shape, or form, the human collateral damage.
It is both complacent simple anI tend to sidestep all but the basic principles, like life and freedom.
Please remember Russian aggression too. In Syria and Ukraine they've bombed hospitals, schools, orphanages with little to no outrage by the U.N. and other governments.
Of course.
This is fantastic and gives me hope.
Me, too.
It sounds like it was a valuable discussion. Word choice certainly sends subliminal messages. But also good move to navigate the topic cautiously and with respect.
This whole situation is so disturbing and horrific, on both sides. From a distance, it all angers me that (mostly) men in charge quickly resort to violence to settle their disputes. Women, children, men, pets, (CHILDREN for heaven's sake!)....all suffer for it.
The every day people want to have opportunities to raise their families in safe, healthy places where they can thrive. It certainly is possible to make that happen for that region for both Israelis and Palestinians. The entire point of creating the state of Israel, as I understand it, was to provide a safe-haven for persecuted Jews from across the globe, especially post WWII. And they, as well as anyone, should have compassion for the Palestinian people who also want a safe place to raise their families. And yet, there has been a long string of violence. It serves no one and neither side seems to want to stop. The hate across the sides has only escalated and no one sees an end to it. And then it ripples across the globe in an awful way.
It doesn't have to be this way!
Everyone remember this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHylQRVN2Qs
Wow.
This is the most heartening story I've read in a long time. That the student asked, that the students wanted, that they engaged their analytical and dialectic skills.
And very importantly your approach. I think you were not only wise but right not to determine that you shouldn't make the occasion, and both brilliant and right not to rule it out when your student asked.
Wonderful.
----------------
I kind of hate to be that guy, but when you won't know, you do't know, so: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/words-and-phrases-commonly-used-offensive-english-language-1.6252274
Thank you.
(And you may not know my ethnic background, but that's cool. Others don't, as well and we were discouraged from discussing it. I am culturally familiar with spirit animals.)
Ah, thanks for explaining. Yeah, up to you, but I don't know that you'd want to be pulling out your genealogy all the time.
Good job, Susan. These students embraced and owned the assignment — it sounds like the classroom conversation was enlightening and beneficial.
I was lucky to be in the room.
Nuance has few champions these days; self-reflection and self-awareness even fewer, I think. Systems of power as complex as we have made them hide behind curtains of simplistic rhetoric. The "great and powerful Oz" is almost always a set of rich, insecure, mostly-men. Perhaps you should offer such classes to the general public. I would attend for sure.
It has been a wonderful class, at least for me.
Love love love all of this
Thanks, friend.
👏🏻 Kudos to you and your class. And to those who pray for a two state solution. If there’s anything left in Gaza.
This! This is what I miss about teaching! Well done!
Would have loved to have seen the white board. Too often people think they have to start a discussion with answers, jumping to conclusions before the details and questions are clear. Thoughts and ideas about a topic, collected without judgement and so everyone can contribute, are like puzzle pieces. You spill them out on the table and sort them out together.
My academic friend suggested we start with questions, and then search for whatever might exist as answers together.
Kudos to you and your students
It was only yesterday that I gave an opinion about the carnage that is taking place in Israel
There was a heated debate on a Facebook post and someone asked what if would take to equate Hamas with Hitler
I said that if Hamas was in control of the government in Israel and they were targeting minority groups in the country , that would be more comparable
What they are is a terrorist organization inside of Israel
That seems to be too complicated for some people to grasp.