Comments on: On Staying Politically Neutral in the Classroom http://www.academicsandbox.com/blog/?p=43 For all things bloggy. Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:23:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Planned Obsolescence » Blog Archive » Teaching Carnival 3.2 http://www.academicsandbox.com/blog/?p=43&cpage=1#comment-55 Planned Obsolescence » Blog Archive » Teaching Carnival 3.2 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:33:32 +0000 http://www.academicsandbox.com/blog/?p=43#comment-55 [...] Meloni points out the value of staying politically neutral in the [...] [...] Meloni points out the value of staying politically neutral in the [...]

]]> By: JM http://www.academicsandbox.com/blog/?p=43&cpage=1#comment-45 JM Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:26:30 +0000 http://www.academicsandbox.com/blog/?p=43#comment-45 I am glad you did comment, precisely because it is partially about you. Also, because we agree. :) Just kidding, Internets! But really, I just like to see it in writing that there still are people out there in academia who believe their job is to cultivate learning, not cloning (unless of course, they're geneticists, but that's a different topic...). And you're right: not enough pink in the world to clothe billions of mini-yous. I am glad you did comment, precisely because it is partially about you. Also, because we agree. :) Just kidding, Internets! But really, I just like to see it in writing that there still are people out there in academia who believe their job is to cultivate learning, not cloning (unless of course, they’re geneticists, but that’s a different topic…).

And you’re right: not enough pink in the world to clothe billions of mini-yous.

]]> By: Toria http://www.academicsandbox.com/blog/?p=43&cpage=1#comment-35 Toria Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:45:19 +0000 http://www.academicsandbox.com/blog/?p=43#comment-35 Since this is partially about me, I feel I should take a moment to emerge from my commenting cave and say that I agree with everything you've said. A tiny non-teacher part of me dies when a student writes homosexuality being an abomination, or how ridiculous it is that creationism isn't taught in public schools. But my primary concern is (and has to be) that my students learn to think and write clearly. If they're going to advance a belief, I want them to do it well. I don't want them to be let down by their writing. (This is why I am so adamant about not using "in today's society".) I guess this teaching philosophy stems from my belief that learning to write well makes you a better person (even if it's a gradual process). There's only so much we can do in a single semester, and I think it's better - more productive, at least - to encourage good thinking habits as a top priority. Also, I remember hearing from a friend in college that she would automatically fail a paper if she implied any doubt about the existence of God. If you're afraid of your professors,or believe their primary concern is something OTHER than intellectual merit, how can you learn from them? Our job is to cultivate learning, not clone mini versions of ourselves (there's not enough pink in the world to clothe so many mini-Torias anyway). On a completely unrelated note, that's pretty exciting, the idea that I could pass for anything I want. Once, in Copenhagen, someone mistook me for a Dane and I was SUPER excited. Geeky tourist moment of triumph. Since this is partially about me, I feel I should take a moment to emerge from my commenting cave and say that I agree with everything you’ve said. A tiny non-teacher part of me dies when a student writes homosexuality being an abomination, or how ridiculous it is that creationism isn’t taught in public schools. But my primary concern is (and has to be) that my students learn to think and write clearly. If they’re going to advance a belief, I want them to do it well. I don’t want them to be let down by their writing. (This is why I am so adamant about not using “in today’s society”.)

I guess this teaching philosophy stems from my belief that learning to write well makes you a better person (even if it’s a gradual process). There’s only so much we can do in a single semester, and I think it’s better – more productive, at least – to encourage good thinking habits as a top priority. Also, I remember hearing from a friend in college that she would automatically fail a paper if she implied any doubt about the existence of God. If you’re afraid of your professors,or believe their primary concern is something OTHER than intellectual merit, how can you learn from them? Our job is to cultivate learning, not clone mini versions of ourselves (there’s not enough pink in the world to clothe so many mini-Torias anyway).

On a completely unrelated note, that’s pretty exciting, the idea that I could pass for anything I want. Once, in Copenhagen, someone mistook me for a Dane and I was SUPER excited. Geeky tourist moment of triumph.

]]> By: JM http://www.academicsandbox.com/blog/?p=43&cpage=1#comment-34 JM Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:52:21 +0000 http://www.academicsandbox.com/blog/?p=43#comment-34 Thanks, Bryce! Thanks, Bryce!

]]> By: Bryce LiaBraaten http://www.academicsandbox.com/blog/?p=43&cpage=1#comment-33 Bryce LiaBraaten Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:08:20 +0000 http://www.academicsandbox.com/blog/?p=43#comment-33 Great post. I know a few people that really should read this. You bring up a great point about Politically Neutral and education. I personally have been in classes in which the teacher has and teaches an obvious bias. It reminded me of a show I saw on PBS about a elementary school teacher. He was being honored for some teaching award... Anyway it showed him teaching a lesson on geology to 5th graders. In the whole lesson he only asked questions. Through these questions the students were guided but responsible for their own learning. The teacher had an obvious love for learning and curiosity for the way the world works. I think this is the most valuable thing a teacher can give their students. Great post. I know a few people that really should read this. You bring up a great point about Politically Neutral and education. I personally have been in classes in which the teacher has and teaches an obvious bias. It reminded me of a show I saw on PBS about a elementary school teacher. He was being honored for some teaching award… Anyway it showed him teaching a lesson on geology to 5th graders. In the whole lesson he only asked questions. Through these questions the students were guided but responsible for their own learning. The teacher had an obvious love for learning and curiosity for the way the world works. I think this is the most valuable thing a teacher can give their students.

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