By Yasmine Sarraf,
Editor-in-Chief.
Students often speak of the difficulties of being a high school student, but what we discuss less often are the difficulties of being a high school teacher. The purpose of school is to educate; however, doing so can be difficult with subjects that discuss both fact and opinion. Subjects such as government, taught by Andrew Brennan, require teachers to avoid letting their biases influence their teaching. But how do they accomplish this?
It is important to recognize that in a school environment, there are some restrictions on Americans’ First Amendment right to free speech. Teachers and students may not engage in speech that seriously disrupts the learning environment. Furthermore, in certain situations it is inappropriate for teachers to express their political views. Teachers must consider the age and maturity of students and the relevance of the topic to the class when discussing controversial subjects.
For example, Brennan explained, ‘“in general,’ a first grade teacher should not be discussing controversial political subjects with students due to their level of cognitive development, whereas it is more appropriate in a middle or high school social studies class when students have developed the ability for critical thinking.”
Brennan shared that his goal as a teacher is to help his students on their journey of self-discovery. “My job is to present evidence of things that are and do not change based upon opinion and to foster reflection of how they are perceived, which is opinion,” said Brennan.
For a class such as government, which can cover controversial topics, Brennan discussed the importance of encouraging and respecting a variety of opinions. “Teachers should focus on facts and encourage students to see multiple perspectives,” said Brennan. In order to do so, Brennan often plays the devil’s advocate and asks students questions that encourage them to reflect on their own biases.
Debate relies on a foundation of facts; it is successful when participants are informed. In the beginning of class, Brennan provides students with facts to inform debate before “true debate” can begin. “Opinion without a solid foundation in evidence is ignorance, and the goal of education is to seek knowledge to inform opinion,” said Brennan.
However, there are certain biases that are widely accepted in our society and necessary to our perception of government. Biases such as “a belief in democracy and freedom versus dictatorship and rigid class systems,” or “in moderation versus extremes like communism and fascism,” Brennan said, he will “unapologetically share.”
The methods for trying to omit bias from a teacher’s instruction may vary from classroom to classroom, but the ultimate goal in a class such as government is to inform and aid in the development of students’ opinions, not to influence them.
