New Books Network Try to Love the Questions: From Debate to Dialogue in Classrooms and Life
Dec 18, 2025
In a thought-provoking discussion, Lara Schwartz, a lawyer, professor, and founder of the Project on Civic Dialogue, explores the intricacies of fostering dialogue in politically charged environments. She emphasizes the importance of listening generously and engaging with uncertainty, encouraging students to embrace a mindset of inquiry. Schwartz critiques simplistic political labels and advocates for practice in good-faith dialogue to bridge differences. With insights on balancing free expression and responsibility, she offers a hopeful perspective on higher education's potential for meaningful discourse.
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A Mentor Who Made Students Feel Seen
- Lara Schwartz recounts a law professor who made students feel seen and supportive.
- That experience shaped her teaching style to be explicitly welcoming and helpful.
Make Expectations Explicit
- Be explicit about classroom expectations and norms from day one.
- Co-generate unclear expectations with students so nobody is surprised and learning improves.
Embrace Trying Over Instant Certainty
- Loving questions is a practice, not a fixed trait; approach inquiry as ongoing effort.
- Trying matters because intellectual humility is difficult and progress is incremental.