Have you ever talked politics with an instructor during class? Our classes did on numerous occasions and they were always amongst my favorite classroom discussions. But, if Arizona legislatures have their way, political discussion in that great state shall be relegated to the dry and boring.
"To muzzle instructors who champion political views in classrooms, an Arizona legislator has proposed a law that would punish public school teachers and professors for not being impartial in the classroom.
If the idea were to become law, teachers said they might shy away from teaching controversial issues out of fear of being misunderstood and punished.
Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert, wrote the bill that has drawn a stream of criticism and support since it received preliminary approval in a Senate committee this month.
Verschoor said his bill would protect students who are afraid to clash with instructors."
I don't know about anyone else, but I find that rather hard to believe and more than a little frightening. My fellow students and I always argued with zest when our discussions in class moved into the realm of politics. I never noticed anyone holding back for fear of clashing with an instructor. And no one ever received a low mark because of a difference of opinion with an instructor. That is not to say it doesn't happen elsewhere, but I think this bill is blowing those rare instances out of proportion.
According to Verschoor, "his bill would target a teacher who said, for example, that Bush is the best president ever and former President Clinton was the worst" (KVOA, 2007).
I've always thought that a big part of politics was personal opinion. Politics isn't cut and dried. It's controversial as hell in so many instances. It seems to me that the only thing this bill is going to do is reduce future Arizona voters to the state of clueless.
"Teachers said that if the bill became law, they would think twice about controversial lessons because they would not want to risk being misunderstood (KVOA, 2007). That's incredibly disappointing. How many current events and political developments aren't controversial to some extent? What's left to cover if the controversial is removed? Not much to my way of thinking.
I'm currently taking American Politics and the class is rife with personal opinion and the controversial. Our professor gives his point of view and expects us to do the same. We discuss, we debate, and we have a good time doing it. I find the thought of exchanges such as ours no longer happening in Arizona to be quite depressing. In so many instances, the only exposure to politics that many in the younger generations get is during discussions at school. Many parents certainly never talk politics to the kids, and of those that do, many never do in a way that leads to discussion.
I'm loathe to even imagine what taking away those few discussions held in front of the blackboard will reduce future voters too. We already have a healthy chunk of under-informed, of clueless, and of name recognition voters. All we need are more of those. And it seems to me, that is about all this bill in Arizona is going to bring about… that and very boring politics courses.
I shudder to think.
Reference:
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=6146624
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That is a scary thought. I am constantly saying (blogging) and thinking that American society wishes to have a numb citizenry that really no longer cares for the bigger picture, whether it's through drugs or education (or lack there of) it still has the same general affect. Very sad. I hope people stand up and FIGHT this piece of legislature, because if it passes there, then others will attempt the same else where.
Ceila
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ceila30
How are students supposed to learn about politics? Where are they (we) supposed to glean their information and ideas from? Not everone just POOFS and comes up with his or her idea on everything. Usually the ideas are collected, gleaned, perfected, from other sources.
Everyone wants students/children in this little plastic bubble with no influences, no challenges, and no opinions. We're headed for a real wakeup call when the future is full of blubbering idiots who can't even function in society.
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"So stuff that in your pipe and smoke it!"
That is totally stupid. I mean really...isn't that part of being a teacher? And in high school, kids are old enough and smart enough to be able to debate and understand different opinions.
Hail The PitGoddess!
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/the-pitgoddess