Discussion in a Democratic Society

It is clear to anyone who has spent a significant amount of time in an English or Language Arts classroom that discussion is an invaluable part of understanding reading, structuring and evaluating writing and grappling with the controversial or thought-provoking ideas delivered by many literary texts. This article helps articulate the kind of environment that must prevail in order for such discussion to thrive. Most interesting to me is the thoughts expressed about discussion itself and the focus placed upon how the ideas presented by the various members of a classroom can help each individual member gain a greater understanding of their own ideas as well as challenge those ideas which they may take for granted. I think most important to me is the idea of Autonomy expressed by the authors of this article. We must remember that the students we are dealing with in secondary classrooms are at critical points in the development of their world-view and their stand on difficult topics. By helping them remember that they may remain firm in their own beliefs while still trying to understand the beliefs and views of others helps us and them to foster an environment of acceptance of any view, even those they may not hold true with the predominant viewpoint. Of course, it also allows us to remind them that we discuss difficult concepts because we want one another to challenge our beliefs if only to make them stronger.