I teach a Contemporary Issues elective course. This is my 6th year to teach this one semester class. We not only talk about current events, but I get to engage them in what is happening in our community, the country and around the world.
My purpose in this class is to present issues and facts {as unbiased as humanly possible} and allow my students to create their own opinions. It is WAY too easy in today's society to not have an opinion on anything. It is too convenient to open up a web browser, search a topic and whichever site pops up first - well - that must be truth. It is WAY too easy to believe what your friends believe because they seem to be opinionated about a topic - so they must be right. It is WAY too easy to not care and not seek truth.
My students are presented with controversial issues {gun control, environmental issues, poverty, child soldiers, the slave trade today, internet censorship, etc. } and they are asked to research both sides of the issue. They are asked to debate and discuss. They are asked to write and process. They are expected to think.
This is one of my favorite parts of teaching. Not only do I get to constantly question what I believe about current hot topics, but I get to see little lights come on as we discuss things that are actively changing the world in which we live. {As a disclaimer: I do not share my opinion with my students. I feel like I could sway their opinions as an authority figure, which would go against my ultimate objective.}
There are days I feel like they don't get it, or they don't care. I get that. I am not naive to think all students are going to give 100% everyday or care about all the things I present to them. I think it makes those "lightbulb" moments that much more special. I get excited to see them excited talking about current issues in the world. If even for a moment - they are getting it. If you have spent much time around teenagers, it's not often you overhear conversations in the classroom about what Kim Jung Un did / said yesterday. This week I had students rushing in before class to talk about North Korea.
Sometimes, we {all people - not just teenagers} get distracted with our own worlds and dont look outside our bubbles to what is happening around us. THAT is what I am working to change. THAT is what I call a success. When students would rather talk about the world and how it is impacting others / us than who was fighting on twitter last period. I feel like I am doing my job well.
Today, this post, was a reminder to why I am doing this.
