Teacher Risks Career to Teach Critical Thinking at College | Warren Smith
Mar 12, 2024
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Teacher risks career to teach critical thinking at college; viral video scrutinizing J.K. Rowling's transphobia accusations; fallout from the video; backlash from Emerson College; concerns about higher education system
Importance of analyzing viewpoints independently to develop reasoned opinions.
Promotion of critical thinking through open dialogue and challenging students to articulate their perspectives.
Deep dives
Controversial Views of JK Rowling and Critical Thinking
Discussing JK Rowling's controversial statements on gender, the podcast delves into the importance of critical thinking. Examining a specific tweet by Rowling seen as transphobic, the dialogue emphasizes the need to analyze viewpoints independently. The conversation highlights the value of thought experiments and questioning societal norms to develop reasoned opinions.
Teaching Methods and Developing Critical Thinking in Students
The podcast features a teacher recounting a viral classroom interaction around JK Rowling. The teacher's Socratic approach to engaging with students fosters critical thinking skills. By gently challenging students to articulate their perspectives, the teacher creates a space for open dialogue and understanding differing viewpoints.
Challenges in Education and the Shift Towards Objectivity
Addressing the landscape of education, the podcast contrasts higher education's conformity with high school's relative objectivity. The guest expresses concern over the lack of diversity of thought in higher ed institutions. Reflecting on events at Emerson College and beyond, there is a call for a more balanced and open approach to teaching and learning .
Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” talks to Warren Smith, teacher and host of the Secret Scholar Society, about his viral video in which he calmly guided a student through a critical thinking exercise concerning the accusations of transphobia against J.K. Rowling; what the fallout has been since the video garnered hundreds of thousands of views; the backlash he has received from his employer, Emerson College; his concerns about the state of higher education; and much more.