Senior Teachers,
I wish you could have seen your students yesterday. They latched on and warmed up to the speakers who were engaging, knowledgeable, and passionate about views that have been marginalized as "radical" such as:
-After all the changes I've seen in 47 years in Washington and 27 of them in the CIA, the most important for you to know is that there is no longer such thing as a free media in this country.
-(On his arrest) We can write all these intellectual papers and have deep conversations, but sometimes you have to put your body into it.
-Our troops used to be able to look their families in the face after having been to war, because they could know, "After all I've done, I've never tortured another man." That has been taken from them.
-It is now an acceptable part of discourse within Congress to not answer the question, and then move on to the next question.
-This is a broken system. There are enough resources, and the CIA has enough information, to solve the world's woes, but this corrupt system that serves the few won't let it.
3rd period took a little longer to warm up than 4th, Everyone in 4th period deserves props for digging in, sharing their beliefs and being honest about their misconceptions, grappling with abstract concepts, and taking advantage of the situation they were in. Stamp. Ready for college on that front.
There were many kids in 3rd period who are more introverted around strangers, especially experts, and would rather absorb and reflect than jump in and grapple, which is valid. However, I wanted to highlight three individuals from that class who elegantly broke the formidable ice early on and made it easier for the rest of them to take some risks.
Jack - He was intellectual and respectful, sometimes trying to answer the question the right way, but more often just openly seeking knowledge to add to his own, and humbly attempting connection-making between what he's heard and what he's hearing. Philosopher.
Gio - After a few failed attempts to get them to vocalize how we'd prepared, I broke and said, "Oh, you guys are just nervous." Giggles erupted and several admitted it was true. Gio broke the wave of giggling with a three minute editorial: summary of the media we'd watched from WikiLeaks, the significance of the implications of the footage, and his emotional reaction and opinions on those matters. Philosopher.
Maria - She was focused for 70 minutes, boldly stating her opinion when appropriate, and honestly admitting when she didn't understand certain implications, by respectfully interrupting the speakers and asking them for more information. The presenters fell in love with her, and began to rely on her. Philosopher.
I think I will give Fearless Philosopher Awards at the next CM.
Have a good weekend,
--
Suzanne Malek-Carter
Global Studies & AP U.S. Government
Metropolitan Arts and Tech HS
(415) 550-5920 ext. 123
