Discussion in a Democratic Society.

From the first section of this reading it seems to me that the most important aspect for us to think of when facilitating a discussion based classroom is that we need to find a means to make all participants feel free and welcome to project their own values, beliefs, and experiences into the classroom dialogue. I especially found the sections on hospitality and humility helpful when developing ideas for a democratic society in the classroom. Hospitality helps create a realm in which every ones opinions are of equal value and can be refuted or strengthened in a non-aggressive professional manner. I also found humility incredibly helpful because it places the teacher and students in a place of limited knowledge, due to the fact that we all come from different backgrounds. I think it is important to keep this in mind in a discussion based classroom because often times I find my students, and even myself at times, arguing points without truly taking the other side into account. If we open up to humility we are more likely to take all opinions and learn from one another, placing the teacher role upon everyone’s heads, and creating a more equal community-based classroom rather than a simply teacher led experience.

            One issue I found with the few chapters we read is that it did not present much information on how to deal with classrooms when discussion becomes aggressive and belligerent. Although there are many sections on how to develop a classroom in which we can create a friendly environment there is no information on how remedy an environment that has or might become toxic. This is something that has occurred a few times in my classroom. The portions on not expecting perfect discussion were somewhat helpful in this regarded. It let me know that conversation will not be perfectly focused, collaborative, or even present during every single lesson, but that crafting the art of good conversation skill develop over time and that varies from classroom to classroom.

            Overall, I found these first two chapters amazing. I know discussion was one of the most important aspects of the classroom because so many students have so many different opinions and backgrounds, that there is almost infinite learning potential we can draw from one another. I never really thought of how to create good conversation and always just sort of went for it with my students. These chapters showed why it is important and good ways to implement it in a great environment.