Discussion in a Democratic Society

Having been part of many stimulating discussions as a student in a variety of courses, I had eagerly awaited my opportunity to be part of one as a teacher. Discussion, particularly in an English classroom, is truly an irreplaceable tool, as "Discussion in a Democratic Society" asserts. Students lead each other to differing viewpoints, and even new lenses altogether in a respectful, engaging environment. I soon found, however, that this is much easier said than done. As of late, discussion in my classroom has been quite a difficult area for my students. Prior to having our literature discussion, I discussed the importance of open-mindedness, respect, and equality that must be present to lead a beneficial discussion. Many of these same dispositions are discussed in the article, which mentions, "hospitality, participation, mindfulness, humility, mutuality, deliberation, appreciation, hope, and autonomy" (8). In my first attempt to hold a literature based discussion in my English classroom, the majority of the students were silent and avoided participating. Those who did participate limited their answers to few words, usually unsure of an answer when I asked the question "why."I left that day feeling quite sullen, unsure of my mistakes. Looking back now, I realize that while most of the students in my class knew how to present their ideas respectfully, they hadn't yet learned how to navigate literature in a way that they could present their ideas with textual evidence. They also hadn't yet been asked to form arguments and opinions about the literature that they've read. Many of my discussion questions centered on the Boo Radley character in To Kill A Mockingbird. But, the majority of the students claimed that they didn't know anything about the character because he hasn't spoken or been seen in the book yet. I had spent time ensuring my students could interact maturely and respectfully to the opinions of others in a discussion format, but I had not prepared them to create their own opinions about the literature. Finally coming to this realization, I was able to take one step -- okay maybe several steps --  back and reevaluate. This selection highlighted for me the importance of preparation. As a teacher, it is my duty to prepare students to not only know how to participate in a discussion effectively and respectively, but also to help them realize their own opinions beforehand. Having done these successfully, though, will certainly pay off as our students will begin to bring new light to the literature that the class reads together.