# 1 Discussion in a Democratic Society

While reading this article, I really liked how the author explained that discussion was an important and valuable tool that if used correctly in the classroom can be an inspiration to teachers and students.  In most classroom settings there are a good amount of opportunities to witness the diversity of our students, both culturally and academically.  In my placement at Central Valley High School, I have three different preps.  I have Pre-AP, LA Basic, and regular english classes.  I count myself lucky because I have an opportunity to have discussions with students who span the entire spectrum.  I believe that discussion can be different for each group of kids and still be highly effective.  In my Pre-AP class, our discussions are different than our discussions in the regular English Class and different still in the LA Basic class.  While we can't all speak at once, there is an order of things, every voice is heard, and that is what the democracy in discussion is about.

Good discussions require participation from everyone.  I have learned that participation is more than just listening and throwing out the occasional random comment.  Participation requires active listening from both the student and the teacher.  In my placement I have learned that while small class sizes can seem easy from the grading standpoint, it is much easier to have a meaningful discussion with more students than less.  We recently read a poem by Sylvia Plath, and I was surprised and thrilled at the conclusion that students were making to the poem and modern life.  They had things to say that I never thought of and it is refreshing to be able to have a mature discussion about the poem with my students.  It is my goal to use the information from this article to enhance my abilities in organizing and facilitating discussions with my students as I get more practice in the classroom.

By the time I finished the article I came to a stronger realization that students can't learn as well in a lecture/note-taking environment as they can in an open discussion setting.  Students need to be able to listen and ask questions, and even to dispute a statement if they disagree.  Part of successful discussion includes investigating all sides of a particular issue. While engaging in discussion, participants need to be aware that their point of view may not be the only valid point of view.  It is up to the teacher to facilitate the discussion to make sure the debate remains moderate and under control at all times.    I realize that as teachers, we are tasked with making sure all voices are heard equally and that all students are encouraged to lend their ideas to the discussion.