Webb's chapter 6 deals with issues of race in the classroom using an American literary classic Huckleberry Finn, as a prime example. Although the main focus is on this literary work, I want to touch base with something that really causes room for debate, which is the issue of censorship and teacher freedom. Instead of sitting here and preaching about all the reasons teachers should be able to do certain things, I am going to present Webb's specific quotes which I think speaks for most people who are opposed to censorship in the classroom.
The first point that I found the most inspiring is when Webb says, "Cultural studies teachers need to remind students, probably on the syllabus and on the first day of class, that controversial issues are part of the learning process, and they need to inform students that diverse points of view will be welcomed and explored" (109). Webb's point here is something for us future educators to keep in mind. By announcing this verbally and in writing for students will open up the doors for interpretation, perspective, and diversity. This way students will have a more comfortable atmosphere to learn in whereas with censorship, students may be alienated and/or isolated (walking on egg shells during classroom discussion).
The second point supports the previous quote by Webb where this may be a great suggestion for teachers to use during the school year to create a serious learning atmosphere for students and their families. "As a high school teacher, I found it useful to invite administrators, colleagues, and parents to my classroom to participate in the discussions my students and I were engaged in. These invitations helped create trust and freedom" (109). By doing this it may show these different groups of people that you as the instructor, are not going to portray and influence opinions on the students, but rather have a classroom setting where everyone can learn from one another and be comfortable with it in return.
The third point deals with self-censorship. Webb says, "self-censorship is probably more damaging to students than open censorship because it specifically avoids public discussion of the constitutional freedoms on which democracy is based" (110). This sentence as a whole, speaks for itself and a mission statement all of us should consider teaching by. We as educators need to uphold our rights as American citizens and condone that to our students as well. In doing so, our students will be more reluctant to have an open-mind and live their lives with independence and great knowledge of diversity.
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2 comments:
This is a nice discussion on censorship. I think it's important that Webb is not advocating teachers close their ears to the complaints of students and parents. Listening to and discussing complaints is not the same as giving in to censorship. Open dialogue with all concerned parties will usually result in an arrangement everyone can live with. Problems occur when administrations act without dialogue and ignore their own policies.
When the environment is one that is based on mutual respect and when multiple opinions are continously encouraged I think that students will be less likely to employ self-censorship. Some students are naturally introverted so I would be careful about when a student is holding something back and when she is "taking it all in."
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