tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2816379396941577754.post5445288327930235038..comments2023-10-27T05:42:20.467-05:00Comments on NCTE High School Matters: Teaching Civil Argument in today’s AmericaNCTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13158338704096862694noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2816379396941577754.post-64264731448792148182009-10-31T06:21:23.160-05:002009-10-31T06:21:23.160-05:00I guess that at one time or another, students have...I guess that at one time or another, students have voiced such blatantly insensitive comments. Teachers have taken on quite a few roles - the moral compases, the keepers of sanity, the voice of judicious thought. It's a lot easier to throw in a few rash comments to get a reaction. When I ask my students why they would even consider saying something offensive, the answer invariably is "It's true, isn't it?" or "Why sugarcoat? Tell it like it is!" The art of public discourse has lost its "artiness". Either we lack word choice or we have diminished our scope of language. In a way, I really hope students can't find the proper words - I'd hate to think what the future holds if language skills are reduced to an Orwellian level.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com