January 6, 2005

What’s the Real Price of Value(s)?

Yesterday I had an awesome discussion with my spazzed-out 6th graders. (Well…awesome except for those 1 or 2 idiots that have to try and ruin EVERYthing for EVERYbody).

I decided to get them thinking about their values – what’s REALLY important to them. We talked about different values and how your behavior shows people what you value. We practiced guessing people’s values by using folks they know about such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Will Smith, Abraham Lincoln, Dubya and our school principal. They were really getting it! Yeah!

Then I threw in a clinker.

Stop. Back Up.

My philosophy about teaching – I am there to show them how to use their minds, not to use my ‘influence’ to push a political or religious (or any other type) of agenda. If I can just get them to THINK effectively, then they will be able to make their own decisions in an intelligent manner. That’s the plan anyway. So I am very careful NOT to tell students, for example, who I voted for in an election or what I think of the War Criminal’s politics,decisions,life style…….. In this case I may have slipped just a little.

Back to yesterday’s discussion.

I asked the kids if killing was OK. Unanimously they decided that they value LIFE. Ah-ha, says I. What about war? Is killing for the sake of winning a war an exception?

Oh yes, said the students. War killing is GOOD. Kill ’em all!

Hmmmmmmmm. So I told them a little (simplified) story about the way things USED to be – back when we had a draft. And males registered with the government and got a number. And when their number was called they went to war. OR the decided not to play that game and went to jail or left behind their families, friends, jobs and country to go live somewhere else. They were interested.

“How long did you have to go to jail for?” “Could you ever come back?” “Why did they go if they could DIE?”

Interesting questions. These babies who were GUNG HO for war killing, all wanted to know about NOT going to war. I pressed on.

IF our president starts up the draft again, that means you ALL will be eligible to be drafted and go to war when you turn 18 – boys AND girls.

“NOT ME!” “They can’t find me – I won’t go” “How long would I have to go to jail for? I can do 5 years easy!”

WAIT! Let me see if I understand you kids. It is OK to send somebody else’s mother/father/sister/brother/child/aunt/uncle/friend off to kill people in another country…..BUT it is not OK to send YOU or YOUR mother/father/sister/brother/child/aunt/uncle/friend off to kill.

They all agreed that this was true.

“WHY????”, says I.

Because WE might get killed and we don’t want to die.

AHA, says the peace-nik teacher. Do you see how far reaching your value system is and how BIG the impact is on many many lives?

And I saw little lights sparking all over the classroom. Some of them got it. Some of them at least are beginning to think. Some of them ()but not too many) are hopeless basket cases that shouldn’t even be allowed to sell cokes at McDonalds.

I worry a little that I stepped over my ‘don’t push an agenda’ boundary……. but not too much. They were thinking…and that seems to be a rarer and rarer event these days.

Torin

January 7, 2005

Thinking is always a good thing, in my opinion. With a congratulatory smile…

Anything that teaches kids how to think and reason has to be good, they are lucky to have you. Too many kids these days don’t have parents who try to do this.

Panini Queen

You got them thinking. And that’s the real skill they need. You done good!

survivorshope

Planting seeds is what teaching is all about…now wait to see what sprouts…you may have the next politician who will make a positive difference in years to come..and the others will at least learn empathy of the fate of others they don’t know. Bravo!

Sugar Magnolia

Thinking kids seems to be an oxymoron these days. Do I sound like a crabby old woman? Seriously..you are a good teacher under very difficult circumstances. I truly admire you. hugs…

twinkling_toe

Your brave…very brave teaching those chatty, social and often obnoxious sixth graders!!!

tae's heartbeats

getting them to think is always good. 🙂

Traveling Light

You have courage, madame. Real courage. Sometimes when I see the kids hanging around the mall, etc., I think, despairing, “This is the hope of the future?” Too often they’re rewarded now for NOT thinking. Good for you.

HeartUntoMind

Not only did you open their eyes to what values ARE in themselves and how to be aware of their own, but what the power of values do in the world, to us, for us, to others, how they shape our culture. Very Very Well Done! I got the joy shivers from this. 🙂

blevins

What can I say? You are wonderful and a blessing to your kids. You make me remember the best teachers I ever had and all these years later there they stand in my memory, smiling as they taught us to think. One day your kids will smile and remember you and the gift you gave them. You are in a forever business. You change lives. ((((Sunshine))))

RoofOnFire

You weren’t over stepping any boundaries at all. You were challenging them, repeating what they said and making it into a question. It’s what you SHOULD do. Well done.

Mns

heh. they didn’t talk about this kind of stuff when we were in school, did they? good on you 🙂

.imp.

I truly don’t remember being pushed to question in that way. You’re a good teach!

FallingDog

YOU GO, SW!!!! What an important lesson you taught them!!!!!!

whowhatwhere

I don’t think that you were pushing your beliefs on them…

BBe

The main thing is that you got them to think. They’ll make up their own minds…. but maybe now, with a little more forethought.

Tornado Warning

There is nothing wrong with getting kids to think! There should be more teachers like you!

LifeInFlames

Getting kids to think for themselves is half the battle.

January 8, 2005

If I ever get my act together, I have a little something to put in the mail for you. Harass me until I do. With a smile…

a mote, floating

I’m with HeartUntoMind — this gave me the joy shivers, too. I’ve still got my grade school literary publication, with incredible poems and stories written by 1st through 8th graders about Vietnam and nuclear war etc. etc. How times have changed. Thank you for giving these kids an extraordinary gift.

darkart

hey, pushing for something like that can’t be wrong. So no worries sunshine! 🙂 Besides, sounds like you set up for some future peacemakers!

lifeisuhmistury

January 10, 2005

Dang girl! What a great way to teach them about values and get their minds in gear! I don’t think you crossed any boundaries you did a wonderful job bringing a tough subject home to them. Values, I love you TOO! I don’t know why this didn’t show up highlighted in my favs earlier. *Frowns* Anywhooooo, I’m proud of you my friend!

ermentrude

January 12, 2005

From what you said, you didn’t at any point say “I think this” You made them think about what they were saying and the implications would be for them and their families. That is not a boundary push it’s a brain exercise and that’s what you’re there for 🙂

RFK asked an auditorum full of college kids at Oklahoma University, how many supported the war in Vietnam, it was 1964. Most did. He asked them, how many of them wanted to be the ones to go. Most Didn’t. Nothing changes..war is war. Btw, you can tell your students, Carter pardon’d all Vietnam Protesters who went to Canada..& he announced it in front of an audience of VFW members. Thats courage.

Arbi

January 29, 2005

If even 15% of our world learnt to quesion and to think our planet would be transformed. Well done – and please keep doing it.