Teaching: ORIGIN Old English tǣcan [show, present, point out,] of Germanic origin; related to token , from an Indo-European root shared by Greek deiknunai ‘show,’ and Latin dicere ‘say.’
Today my son came home from school all worked up over a speaker that came in and talked to his class about cults. I guess the teachers didn't like the speaker, even though my son found it fascinating. But what troubles me about the day is that the teachers imposed their opinions on the kids rather than discuss the various points that students had heard and understood differently from others. Why not have a discussion rather than a lecture about how the teacher feels.
How hard is it to ask:
What made you think of that?
Why do you think he said that?
Based on what he described, could you see yourself falling for cult tactics?
Rather than impose your opinion all the time.
It's so bad that my son commented today, " I don't want to disagree, b/c then she will hate me and I will get bad grades." I worked there....he's right. How sad.
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I know there are a lot of wonderful teachers out there, a lot of underpaid but passionate advocates for kids. But I also suspect some people go into teaching because they enjoy the power. They get to hold court in front of an entire class, and they get to give out grades. Sounds like your son got one of these bullies. Too bad. A teacher like that can wear a kid's enthusiasm down.
ReplyDeleteHold court, that fits.
ReplyDeletereally, this happens in a country that still insists on teaching intelligent design. No way
ReplyDeleteWhy did they have a speaker about cults? I would have not gone for that in my child's school.
ReplyDeleteA speaker about cults IS essential, but you've mentioned that the teachers didn't care for the speaker...? I think the principal and the teachers should have come to an agreement first. Perhaps that is why the teachers (who are only human with all negatives and positives that implies) felt threatened enough to want to impose their opinions.
ReplyDeleteJust my humble opinion - but then it is always easier from the outside.
This reminds me of the whole controversy surrounding the Golden Compass. Why someone in the media won't just stand up and say, "Go see the movie and decide for yourself if it's God they kill, and then discuss it!" is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteReally. Exposing people to others and respecting other points of view is the whole reason this country was founded.
Oh my. It does sound a little bit like a power play. The saddest part is that your son feels as if he can't speak his mind without repercussions. Unfortunately, it's not just the school environment where that exists. Some people can't even speak their minds at their workplace for fear of getting canned.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that. Even in college my sons ran into that, only difference was I reminded them that I fork out the money so the teachers work for THEM. That seemed to work in giving them the courage to insist that their viewpoints be heard.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that some teachers don't take the time to teach our children to think things through for themselves.
ReplyDelete