Re: "Is that one of those 'soccer' questions?"

On 9/29/10, marjoryt wrote:
> My students joined the intellectuals today - it's wonderful
> to see them wake up and start working the problems!
>
> Early in the semester I described the Socratic teaching
> method to my students - that I'd be asking questions
> without easy answers, that I would not answer the questions
> myself, and that they would have to work together for the
> solutions.
>
> Today, we read a selection by the sociologist Claude Levi-
> Strauss, which discussed chiefs in South American tribes.
> I then invited questions from the students and responded to
> those questions. My conclusion question was, "This is the
> second selection we've read about leadership. The first
> was Machiavelli's "The Duties of the Prince." What's the
> difference between the two concepts?"
> Dead silence. I let it sit. Ask the question again. Let
> it sit. And let it sit some more.
> One student raised his hand. "Mrs. T, is this one of those
> soccer questions?"
> soccer, soccer, Socratic. . .
> I answered "Yes, it is! Say something to get the class
> started!"
> He said, "Machiavelli thought a prince should be ready for
> war."
> Another student said, "Well, you have to have money for
> weapons and equipment."
> The first student said, "And food, not that soldiers ever
> have good food. Pay too. My ancestor quit the Confederate
> Army - he hadn't been paid in two years."
>
> The students worked on that problem for about 5 minutes,
> but then one said, "Ok, let's give Mrs. T her answer now.
> I think Machiavelli's leader hoards his resources and
> considers his people as a type of resource. Those chiefs
> consider themselves and anything they own as resources for
> the people of the tribe. It's like the exact oppposites.
> Then, what are we, Mrs. T?"
> My response? "Great work on a Socratic question. Good
> work, good answer. Let's read what Rousseau and Jefferson
> say about leaders in a democracy - next week."