I was wondering if anyone else has seen the new HBO show Newsroom. The first episode includes a tirade about what's wrong with America today - that we're not "The Greatest Country in the World" as we once were. Much of the criticism is that the public is not well informed, morally invested, & engaged. It's a show about journalism, but as I watched this first episode, I kept thinking of this book and our discussion. What role does a teacher play in this larger context of moral and intellectual disengagement? As information increasingly becomes an a-la-carte experience, in which we can select content that supports our perspectives (and mainstream journalism does little to confront our biases) perhaps it falls to public education to challenge young thinkers to formulate their own well-informed opinions. Are we up to the task? Is it possible for individual teachers to have this sort of impact, or are we prisoners to the larger social forces at work? Is it naive to even suggest it?! :)
As I keep reading I have been wondering that same question... what can I do?
ReplyDeleteI have thought of putting quotes from the book up in my room that are brutally honest about what employers are looking for, creativity etc.
I also have thought about changing some lessons to force students to do more open ended questions... tying together our essential questions and probing for the something extra... all within the context of what they need to start thinking about as future american workers.
Interesting discussion. Yes, I have watched Newsroom and really enjoyed it. I do think as teachers we have a role in the larger context of moral and intellectual "engagement." By continuing to challenge our students to be critical readers and writers we are helping our democracy survive. Check out episode 3 when he says in order to have a democracy, we have to have a well-informed electorate. In one of my favorite graduate courses, the professor ran a pro vs. con discussion each week. When asked, "what was the reason for a public education?" there were many answers--prepare for college, the work force, etc. Actually, the reason for public education is one--in order for a democracy to survive we have to have voters who can read and write. That was it. My neice is working for a healthcare consulting firm in DC--one of her "very Republican" bosses told her not to watch Newsroom because it is just "liberal bs." He also said any place outside of the U.S. is a "third-world country" so he doesn't travel. Amazing. I think his salary is about 1M a year--assuming he doesn't want to pay taxes either as he is a job creator!
ReplyDeleteChristian. I think changing lessons so students have more open-ended questions is the way to go. They need to learn to think like scientists, too. I think the teachers in our school are an amazing group--read the comments--we all want our students to be thinkers and learners. Mary Ellen