Submitted by J. Mahlon (not verified) on April 14, 2007 - 06:58.
As an educator, the only time when it "pays to keep your mouth shut" is when doing so benefits the students, by letting them grasp toward their own truths and discoveries. However, in general terms, we can not easily educate and create democratic citizens without modeling what it means to be one. Good citizens are not afraid to engage in reasonable and respectful dialogue concerning social or political issues. By sharing our beliefs (and more often our indecision) when contextually appropriate, and allowing our students the freedom to do the same, we are doing our duty to help mold impressionable students into thoughtful democratic citizens, citizens who are experienced in challenging and analyzing the complex realities of social and political life. At the end of their education, this is a much bigger contribution to society than whether every grammar lesson has been retained.
Does this belong in the classroom? It all depends on the context of age, subject matter, environment, etc. Teachers of course should use their best judgement, as with almost everything else in the classroom. Teachers who are evangelical or overbearing with their opinions can be challenged by parents and administrators, and rightly so. It would be going completely overboard to get legislation involved.
As an educator, the only
Submitted by J. Mahlon (not verified) on April 14, 2007 - 06:58.
As an educator, the only time when it "pays to keep your mouth shut" is when doing so benefits the students, by letting them grasp toward their own truths and discoveries. However, in general terms, we can not easily educate and create democratic citizens without modeling what it means to be one. Good citizens are not afraid to engage in reasonable and respectful dialogue concerning social or political issues. By sharing our beliefs (and more often our indecision) when contextually appropriate, and allowing our students the freedom to do the same, we are doing our duty to help mold impressionable students into thoughtful democratic citizens, citizens who are experienced in challenging and analyzing the complex realities of social and political life. At the end of their education, this is a much bigger contribution to society than whether every grammar lesson has been retained.
Does this belong in the classroom? It all depends on the context of age, subject matter, environment, etc. Teachers of course should use their best judgement, as with almost everything else in the classroom. Teachers who are evangelical or overbearing with their opinions can be challenged by parents and administrators, and rightly so. It would be going completely overboard to get legislation involved.