How do we talk about issues that matter?
Talking and conversation is essential to human interaction. We have conversations everyday, but how do we handle conversations over a "touchy" topic? Throughout my college education, I've been in several classes where debates can get heated and I could tell the only reason some of my classmates weren't using harsh language was because we were in a classroom and they could possibly get kicked out. It makes me sad and frustrated that some people have forgotten how to respectfully disagree with someone. I understand that people can be very passionate about a topic, especially when it’s something extreme such as racism, political leaders, etc.; however, I do believe we should all treat each other with the same respect we wish to receive. We come from different backgrounds and upbringings that we should be better listeners so we can understand why someone thinks the way that they do.
As teachers, I think it's vital to have classroom discussions over topics that are important or concern us. There are so many issues in our world that I believe it’s inevitable that students will have conversations amongst one another about those issues. We have a responsibility as well to inform our students of those topics because it could affect their daily life. I also think that we have a responsibility to make sure we create a safe environment for our students to express themselves. Even for students who might have different viewpoints than our own. We must be respectful of one another when having these discussions because when the students are older and are out in the world, we can better change the way we talk about issues that matter.
Hi Lili! I really enjoyed reading your blog post, it made me realize and think about some things I've never grasped before. One of the first things I learned in school was the golden rule, which is, treat others the way you would like to be treated and I think this applies no matter how old you are and people tend to forget that. People have such strong opinions and personalities these days that issues get way out of hand and it creates a divide between us as human beings. Us, as soon to be teachers, are leaders in America and can pave the way to start discussing issues in a calm and respectful way so that discussions do not get out of hand and heated the way they do in our generation. It truly makes me sad that people will hold their tongue on their opinion or something they are passionate about because of their worry that they could get kicked out of the classrooms, and it needs to change.
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