Albany HS thought experiment: "Why Jews Are Evil."

[MadZealot]

Seriously.

[Neteruhemta RaShuGeb]

Seriously.

 
I could see taking a look at the propaganda, but WRITING about it.

If they wanted to have them do a persuasive paper on a difficult subject, why not a CURRENT social issue rather than one connected to a subject that led to genocide?

I say poor taste.

[RandallS]

Seriously.

From the article: "'You must argue that Jews are evil, and use solid rationale from  government propaganda to convince me of your loyalty to the Third  Reich!' the assignment read."

I'm afraid that any high school teacher who asked me to (even theoretically) convince him that I was loyal to the Third Reich would have seen me get up and walk out of his class -- and probably not return. By high school I was already convinced that the only good Nazi was a dead Nazi -- and I'd interpret any assignment like this as strong evidence of (at a minimum) Nazi sympathies.

Note, I'dd have been happy to write a paper on the anti-Semitic propaganda of the Third Reich or on the anti-Semitic policies of the Third Reich but I'd take a zero before I'd defend them. What annoys me most about this assignment was two-thirds of the class was apparently willing to complete it.

[MadZealot]

From the article: "'You must argue that Jews are evil, and use solid rationale from  government propaganda to convince me of your loyalty to the Third  Reich!' the assignment read."

I'm afraid that any high school teacher who asked me to (even theoretically) convince him that I was loyal to the Third Reich would have seen me get up and walk out of his class -- and probably not return. By high school I was already convinced that the only good Nazi was a dead Nazi -- and I'd interpret any assignment like this as strong evidence of (at a minimum) Nazi sympathies.

Note, I'dd have been happy to write a paper on the anti-Semitic propaganda of the Third Reich or on the anti-Semitic policies of the Third Reich but I'd take a zero before I'd defend them.

All this, seconded, with a hell yeah and a no kidding.
 

What annoys me most about this assignment was two-thirds of the class was apparently willing to complete it.

Double plus ungood.

Add:  Consider if there's a Jewish kid in that class.  What if you're the kid's Jewish parent.  Let that idea simmer.

[Asch]

Seriously.

 
Soooo that's revolting. I actually shuddered. What in the actual fuck?

[Jack]

Seriously.

 
That is some creepy BS, as required school assignments go. Ew.

[sailor]

I could see taking a look at the propaganda, but WRITING about it.

If they wanted to have them do a persuasive paper on a difficult subject, why not a CURRENT social issue rather than one connected to a subject that led to genocide?

I say poor taste.

 
Possibly because the blow back from having the kids write about this is less than having the kids (or even half the kids) right that abortion is wrong, or gay marriage is wrong, or any of a number of issues of current concern.

[RandallS]

Possibly because the blow back from having the kids write about this is less than having the kids (or even half the kids) right that abortion is wrong, or gay marriage is wrong, or any of a number of issues of current concern.

The proper way to set up any assignment like this is to require that the paper be in two parts, the first x words arguing for the position, the second x words arguing against the position. Then it is apparent that the purpose of the assignment is to argue a position well, regardless of which side they are on and to learn to be able to look at a controversial issue from more than one side.

Even there one would need to pick an issue that is not completely polarizing (like abortion or gay marriage would be today) or already decided to the point that arguing one position would be offensive (slavery, the Holocaust, ). Examples of current issues that could work: Should the Electoral College be abolished? Is the Voter Rights Act still needed? Is Net neutrality a good idea?

The teacher should be sure to pick a topic on which he/she has no strong feelings on either side (to avoid be subconsciously biased in grading). Also students should be told that they can select which side to support in which have of the paper (if the teacher she do one first then the other, many will take it as telling them which position is actually correct).

[sailor]

The proper way to set up any assignment like this is to require that the paper be in two parts, the first x words arguing for the position, the second x words arguing against the position. Then it is apparent that the purpose of the assignment is to argue a position well, regardless of which side they are on and to learn to be able to look at a controversial issue from more than one side.

Even there one would need to pick an issue that is not completely polarizing (like abortion or gay marriage would be today) or already decided to the point that arguing one position would be offensive (slavery, the Holocaust, ). Examples of current issues that could work: Should the Electoral College be abolished? Is the Voter Rights Act still needed? Is Net neutrality a good idea?

The teacher should be sure to pick a topic on which he/she has no strong feelings on either side (to avoid be subconsciously biased in grading). Also students should be told that they can select which side to support in which have of the paper (if the teacher she do one first then the other, many will take it as telling them which position is actually correct).

 
I don't think any of of your three examples is really controversial.   Of course if you don't want controversial then they are excellent examples of current events that can be argued from both sides - and more importantly, can stand some serious research by individuals.

I'm not sure about what you are trying to say in your last paragraph though. Are there a couple of typos or Randallisms in there?

[Aisling]

I'm afraid that any high school teacher who asked me to (even theoretically) convince him that I was loyal to the Third Reich would have seen me get up and walk out of his class -- and probably not return.

 
This. With some choice words.  

I wonder if the students who completed the assignment gave any thought to the fact that they'd attached their names to documents defending a regime that slaughtered millions and that doing so could come back to haunt them later.

[Melamphoros]

 
I wonder if the students who completed the assignment gave any thought to the fact that they'd attached their names to documents defending a regime that slaughtered millions and that doing so could come back to haunt them later.

 
Given what I remember of the people I went to high school with, probably not.

[RandallS]

I don't think any of of your three examples is really controversial.   Of course if you don't want controversial then they are excellent examples of current events that can be argued from both sides - and more importantly, can stand some serious research by individuals.

They are all controversial, but they are not issues that are likely to be so polarizing that students or parents will raise a stink.

I'm not sure about what you are trying to say in your last paragraph though. Are there a couple of typos or Randallisms in there?

This is what was intended: "The teacher should be sure to pick a topic on which he/she has no strong  feelings on either side (to avoid being subconsciously biased in grading).  Also students should be told that they can select which side to support  in which half of the paper (if the teacher said do the pro position first then the anti position (or vice versa), many will take that instruction as telling them which position is actually  correct."

[sailor]

This is what was intended: "The teacher should be sure to pick a topic on which he/she has no strong  feelings on either side (to avoid being subconsciously biased in grading).  Also students should be told that they can select which side to support  in which half of the paper (if the teacher said do the pro position first then the anti position (or vice versa), many will take that instruction as telling them which position is actually  correct."

 
OK, much clearer. And very good idea. Although I'm more tempted to use some random element such as rolling the dice or pick names & stance out of a hat for each kid.

[MadZealot]

OK, much clearer. And very good idea. Although I'm more tempted to use some random element such as rolling the dice or pick names & stance out of a hat for each kid.

 
A random approach works.  Had this experience in 3rd year of HS.  A bunch of kids shared the same History and English teachers.  These two teachers put their heads together, combined the classes and periods and hosted a massive debate royale.  Subjects and pro/con were randomly assigned.  Great experience.