Journal #1 on "Discussion in a Democratic Society Chapter 1"

While reading the first chapter of Discussion in a Democratic Society, it brought to mind a lot of my own memories of class discussions in High School, College, and University. My experiences have been varied and invaluable in the sense that, in their variance, I can see what has been done right by my fellow students, and what went terribly wrong. This chapter brings up the need for students to feel comfortable expressing their opinions and experiences. The kinds of environments that helped students in my classes feel this way are always more relaxed, and often had amiable teachers with good senses of humor. Having been in classrooms that both excel and fail in these key areas highlight the importance of knowing how to encourage conversation and pointed discussion.

Fear of judgment has always been something that held me back, and in High School I was much less concerned about the judgment of my teachers than I was of the judgment of other students. Building an environment that enthusiastically supports the opinions and discussions of everyone in a classroom while also encouraging students to broaden their horizons and consider other points of view is no easy feat. It should, however, be the goal of every teacher. Open-door policies where students can feel comfortable discussing ideas further after class or via email are also very good ideas for encouraging students and making their ideas seem valued.

Happily, the difficulties of discussion were not ignored in the chapter. Discussions get heated, and sometimes they turn into arguments which leave a teacher to moderate or play devil’s advocate. It is likely, however, that a comforting environment where everyone’s opinion is appreciated will help to quell the distress and upset that comes from the debate environment. In my experience, I always found class debate fruitful, even when assigned to positions I did not personally hold. Learning about the reasons for why people feel the way they do encourages respect and understanding of different ideals and cultures. Exposure to the multiplicity of the world and its lack of clear-cut answers is daunting, but also comforting in its own way. It prepares students for the real world where gray-areas and openness to change of opinion are more visible.