Navigating Ethical Tensions
Towards the end of our discussion on the successes and failures of the New Deal, the conversation turned to asking whether progress was worth it if some groups are excluded or “left behind”. This led to an argument between a Black student and white student when the Black student accused the white student of saying that it was “okay to leave Black people behind”. It was unclear in the moment if the student actually said it or if he was misheard, but I was deeply conflicted as to what to do in the moment.
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Sigal
10th Grade
US History
Second Year Teaching
- What is the teacher's dilemma? Consider the teacher's goals, possible actions, beliefs about the situation and the students, and their own self-perceptions.
- Complete or modify the following sentence in a way that captures the teacher's central tension in the situation: "While on the one hand, the teacher believed/wanted/felt/did __________, on the other hand, they believed/wanted/felt/did __________."
- When reflecting on your experience teaching difficult historical topics, how do you balance the need to protect students from harm with the goal of preserving an open space for debate? How could you anticipate these tensions in your planning?