It was interesting to have Gayle come and speak with us on the topic of free speech and to learn about some of the background behind some of the court cases. It is a challenging situation for teachers, I think, in this time when we have to be so very careful about what we say and teach. I think we live in a time of social insecurity, when people are afraid of opinions that contradict their own, and as a result, we must be exceedingly sensitive when we teach. As teachers, we are challenged to teach our students to accept opinions that differ from their own, but we must do it in a way that is politically neutral.
I do think it's important to keep in mind that students are impressionable—and that our own opinions might sway theirs. But at the same time, I struggle with having to reserve our own opinions when asked direct questions. In a way, this seems disingenuous.
I guess it boils down to playing the game and jumping through all right hoops—without losing sight of our goal ... to teach students to think critically.
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I'm not so sure it is as much about jumping through hoops as not dominating the conversation. The point is that so much of true learning is about discovery. Teachers are in positions of power. Using the classroom as a pulpit may create alike thinkers but not independent ones.
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