I agree. Thanks for a response that makes me think.

On 7/03/09, Kev wrote:
>> 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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