Donate to The Echo
$0
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal
Your donation will support the student journalists of St. Louis Park High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
Diversity of thought silenced
Unpopular opinions face isolation
March 3, 2017
Despite being in a supposedly open-minded environment, junior Billy Nicholls said he commonly finds himself struggling to speak his mind at school when he disagrees with majority opinions.
Mike Schechter • Mar 7, 2017 at 8:15 am
Great article– It is incumbent on the teachers to draw out opposing views, playing devil’s advocate at times, and creating the safe space to host all conversations. Politics is a pendulum. As the classroom described here has swung left, these students will experience in their lifetime classrooms or break rooms that are right-leaning. Now is the time to learn how to engage in respectful and productive discussions envisioned by the First Amendment– designed to enlighten and inform citizenry. And, future leaders avoid the sycophants. Some of our best presidents have filled cabinet posts with political opponents recognizing the value of hearing, understanding and giving safe space to all opinions. I hope that Park is teaching not only this tradition, but perhaps more importantly, the skill set to create and reward these safe space conversations.