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Exploring Others' Perspectives in History's Lessons and Questions

School is not about answers, it's about questions—especially “why” questions we ask boys and they ask each other. "Why" targets the heart of any matter, it asks not for a simple response but for careful consideration, exploration, and reasoned analysis. At the core of inquiry is respect for difference; to be able to entertain a different perspective with an open mind. It was Aristotle who once wrote, "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." It is with an open mind and intellectual curiosity that our boys can critically analyze ideas and issues.


In a recent publication of Saint David's Magazine, History Curriculum Chair Joe Shapiro addresses this in his piece entitled: "Exploring Others' Perspectives in History's Lessons and Questions." The article demonstrates our widely used Socratic seminar approach -- in this example employed during a sixth grade history unit on the Hamilton/Jefferson debates. During these seminars, half the boys engage in a discussion around a topic, while the teacher and the other half of the class take notes and evaluate the boys on their logic and how well they listen to their classmates' points of view. Through this process, our boys defend their arguments while critically analyzing opposing arguments and cultivating a respect for difference. 

Link to Article: 
Photos are from fall 2020.

 

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