Rethinking Schools Spring 2011
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/25_03/25_03_bigelow.shtml
accessed 3/25/11
Summary/Key Points: Bill Bigelow (author of the Columbus article we read in 561 the other day, and of many similar articles) details a team-taught lesson to a 9th grade social studies class about coal mining and use in America. Through a clever game (linked at the bottom of the article above) borrowed from the non-profit coal propaganda group The American Coal Foundation, and through a brilliantly timed class (not biasing students with environmental impact information right from the start, for example), Bigelow and his team teach a powerful lesson. In his summary of the lesson, he gives voice to both the students who came away powerfully impacted by the environmental destruction, and the few who were not swayed by the arguments presented through the lesson; in other words, he balances his description of both the lesson and its impact, just as he was clearly careful to do when planning it out.
Intended Audience: the article includes a detailed lesson idea for social studies (and possibly LA) classrooms; the general public will also find it interesting
Relevance: This article is interesting and relevant from several perspectives. Aside from being a good curricular lesson (covering SS standards that pertain to local and regional awareness as well as environmental questions), the lesson is powerful from a "critical inquiry" perspective because it gives students two sides of the argument, one from the boosters and one from the detractors. Exposure to both sides both allows the students to begin to form their own opinions as they question each side critically, and saves the teachers (us!) from potential accusations of bias from parents or whoever else. It is relevant from the standpoint of social justice, as well; addressing issues like this one begins at the grass-roots level, and more awareness translates into more power for change.
Considering this from the perspective of a coal industry executive (or the board of ACF), it would be interesting to see what teachers like Bigelow and his group are doing to combat the propaganda, and then using that information to tailor the message to be more powerful and subversive of these opposing viewpoints.
edited to add: compilation of coal teaching resources from Bill Bigelow
Mr. Bigelow seems like an interesting character. I'm curious to know how he actually steers the discussion behind the closed doors of his classroom. Coal is a favorite target of the hard left, I wonder if he has attacked the man-made global warming agenda with the same level of fervor...especially after all the evidence of data manipulation and falsehood has come to light.
ReplyDeleteI suspect we can count on him to "bring to light" all sorts of things that fit his ideological view of the world.
If he really does approach issues from an unbiased perspective, great. As we all know however, that is very hard if not impossible task.
I don't think he will be talking about the founders of the KKK or Planned Parenthood anytime soon, among other non-PC topics...just a guess. If he's not willing to do that however, he just becomes a well hidden activist for one political bent.