Educators Don’t Agree on What Whole Child Education Means. Here’s Why It Matters.
July 16, 2019
By: Rachel Burstein
Source: EdSurge
“How do you judge a person on one bad act that they do and what should be the parameters?” This ethical question formed the center of a thoughtful, deep discussion about an email from the school administration asking teachers to tell students not to “like” a YouTube video posted by a comedian who had been accused of making anti-Semitic statements.
“The kids were so thoughtful in what they said,” reflects Rana Hafiz, the veteran math teacher and former administrator who took time to engage her students in this ethical discussion. “I would hate to think about only their mathematical ability, whether they could solve a trig problem or not,” she adds.
The conversation was meaningful and productive, but unfortunately, the administration at the Connecticut middle school where Hafiz currently teaches hadn’t actually asked her to facilitate it. Nor had they carved out time for her to do so. Instead, Hafiz made an impromptu decision to take time to engage students in discussion after relaying the administration’s concern about students’ YouTube behavior, and noticing that her students were hungry to explore the issue further.