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February 04, 2004
teaching controversial issues
I'm quoted in an article about how to manage controversial issues in elementary and secondary classrooms: see "Hot-Button Handling" from District Administrator Magazine. I make a couple of points in the article, but this is the one that I consider most important: "There is no question that there are horror stories about partisan teachers, racist teachers, teachers [who] give extra points for bringing in certain campaign signs. Those are disciplinary issues and should not be allowed to happen," Levine says. "But do we throw the baby out with the bath water?''
I think we need to cut administrators some slack on those relatively rare occasions when teachers try to indoctrinate kids politically. If we punish administrators in such cases, they get very nervous and will discourage all political discussion in schools. And then kids can't learn about issues.
Posted by peterlevine at February 4, 2004 02:25 PM
Comments
Lernfreiheit and Lehrfreheit.
Worth trying to dig up a copy of Walter P. Metzger's 'Academic Freedom In The Age of the University'.
Ironically, it's out of print.
Posted by: Taran at February 4, 2004 03:36 PM
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