> By the way, history and social studies have never been just
> about the facts. Social studies is about interpreting the
> world. I hope I help my students learn to think. The problem
> with our partisan society is that many students never learn to
> think at home. In fact, many parents find thinking dangerous
> and are ready to crucify any teacher who simply presents both
> sides of any major, contemporary issue.

Presenting both sides isn't teaching students how to think - that
is the problem. When you present both sides people hear the side
they want to hear and that's the end of it. That is why our
politicians get away with canned non-answers in debates. They just
throw out the "red meat" and their followers are satisfied.

I think our job as social studies teachers is to teach students
how to question so-called facts. From day 1 I tell my students
that it is entirely possible that everything I teach them this
year could be wrong. It is simply the best guess we have based on
evidence.

Now believe me, I'm not advocating some post-modern "there is no
truth" mindset. I firmly believe there is but it is reached
through questioning not indoctrination.

If you want to have some fun with this idea. Go ask any kid how
they feel about Global Warming. Then ask them what they do about
it. Then ask them why.

I guarantee you'll get:
"It's ruining everything!"
"recycle"
"no idea"

You could do this with just about any political issue, and
frankly, with just about any age!

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