Search

Part of the "Why I Teach" series.

Minnesota youth and elders turn life histories into song.

During the school year, I try to empower my students to make their own decisions and form their own opinions. I begin with a unit I call, “Question Authority.” Students investigate all kinds of authorities, including government, media, and history. It’s a powerful unit that leaves kids shocked (“Food labels can say fat-free even if there’s fat in the food?”), disappointed (“Those models in the magazine are all Photoshopped?”), and angry (“We imprisoned people just because of their ethnic heritage?”). They learn to develop a critical lens with which to question the reality they once blindly accepted.

When dealing with a student whose behavior is a challenge, first ask yourself if you have a relationship with the student. When you build a relationship, you’ll notice a huge difference in behavior.

Anthropologist Max Altman was observing students and educators at a Midwestern high school when the 2016 presidential election occurred. He witnessed firsthand how they responded and followed up this winter to see what had changed in the last year.