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Progressive Teaching
Next month, I will begin teaching English 105 (really ENG 101, but for some reason they call it 105 here) at Northern Arizona University. I've tutored little kids in the past, but this will be my first time teaching adults. Well, technically they're adults, most will be 18 when the semester begins. I'll be teaching them composition and critical thinking: how to effectively read and communicate with the world around them. I truly believe this is the most important thing they will ever learn.
Being able to critically analyze politics and the media will help them in everything they do in the future, and hopefully it will help them evaluate the "truths" they have been feed by their parents, TV, politicians, etc. It seems that my students will primarily come from affluent families in Scottsdale, Arizona. Many will not even have to work while they attend college. They won't all be privileged white kids. Some will come from the Reservations here in Arizona, some from the less desirable areas than Scottsdale, some on scholarship and some on loans. But, from what my fellow graduate assistants tell me, most of my students will come from conservative backgrounds and be resistant to the critical thinking I will be teaching them.
Liberal education is under attack these days by conservatives who claim that liberal education breeds liberals. To a certain extent, I think they're right. Once you are taught to analyze and critique the world, you really have to work to believe the lies, propaganda and rhetoric that conservatives rely on.
So, my task will be to bring progressive ideas to the classroom without making them overtly political, perhaps without my students even knowing that they are learning to think "progressively" which I believe means being able to think critically and independently, and not be persuaded by rhetoric or marketing ploys. I'm nervous about this, of course, but also excited. Education is one of the most vital defenses we have against the Right. An educated society would, I believe, vote and act in a more progressive manner than we currently do. I'm looking forward to teaching students the skills they will need to navigate and hopefully improve our society.
- Alexandra Siskonen's blog
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Good!
that's amazing; i'm very glad to hear this. critical thinking skills are probably one of the most important things we need in an educated society; it's the backbone. It's like teaching a horse to get to the lake by himself.
i was getting so pissed off on the train this morning, reading Al Gore's "The Assault On Reason" because, as he notes, so many people just absorb the shit that's fed to them without questioning or even thinking about it further. (great book, everyone should read it!)
and i think it's partly because so many people are caught up in even the pettiness of their own lives that they needn't be bothered (enough to analyze) and then concede that they're just one person anyway. a failure of empowerment.
it makes me so angry. so no need to be overly nervous; you're doing a great thing!
Yeah!
Hmmm...I don't agree that every educated person would vote and act in a more progressive manner. Perhaps more people in a in an educated society would. What would that look like? Does that mean everyone goes to college?
Cause I know plenty of people who went to college and avoided those classes, groups, and conversations that would force them to question...everything. We all know some of them.
Anyway, I'm so excited that you're excited about teaching. I think education is the best way to bring about change. I'm sure you'll do great... and it only gets better with time.