Teachers putting their twist in "facts"?

Question

I am in 9th grade and I am 14 about to be 15
I have heard so many people say that teachers put their thought and feelings into what we learn
and I never comprehended what they ment until now
Why do teachers say that they dont have room to be creative with what they teach but they then turn around a teach us their thoughts and feelings
like with the war in Iraq, or the Bush administration, or the vietnam war and they even twist shakespeare
I just dont get it why they dont just teach the facts
have you seen this
I think the teachers should just teach us and let us think for ourselves
the teenage population is already messed up we dont need teachers projecting their thoughts into us and using us as puppets
what do you think about teachers putting their thoughts into the curriculem
I really wouldn't have a problem with it if they taught all sides of the belief but they dont?
what do you think

I realize everyone has oppinions but they could leave them out
lets say we are talking about the Holocaust
they could say that some believe it was terrible
but some believe it never occured
they could tell us both sides is what im trying to say not just theirs

Answer 1

I agree that teachers should not try to indoctrinate students by only teaching one point of view. You're absolutely right.

But, try stating one fact (any fact) without their being some opinion there, too. For example, let's say you state that the United States was founded in 1776. Seems innocent, right? But there's opinion there. Who is to say what counts as starting a nation? Maybe it's when the US Constitution passed in 1791 instead. Or maybe it's when the 50th state joined the country, rather than just the first thirteen. Also, what about the Native Americans who founded various nations way before the Europeans ever crossed the Atlantic? You see what I mean.

Answer 2

As a teacher I am very careful to present both sides of a topic. Kids frequently ask me my opinion and I tell them that my opinion doesn't matter as they have to form their own. Some kids ask to meet with me during lunch or after school as they wanted to know my opinion. During those times I have no problem telling them my thoughts and why but do make certain to let them know that they should come to their own conclusion.

You did say that teachers should just stick to the facts. Imagine how boring that would be. A big part of our job is to make you think by presenting both sides and to hopefully stir a debate.

Good luck in school and keep an open mind.

Answer 3

It's sometimes effective to get students to think. To use it as a debate then I think it has a value.

But most can't decide what facts are. If you get a history book it is written from the perspective of the country where it is published, or from the nationality of the author who wrote it. You won't find the unbiased class you seek. Some people say this side fired the first shot, some people say that side fired the first shot.

Therefore, it is your duty to seek out what is factual and sift through the propoganda. Don't just get your news or history from American sites and sources. Read the BBC, Granma, Al Jezeera, and become truly educated.

Answer 4

The answer here is that it is absolutely impossible to give a historical, literary, cultura, etc., fact without your emotions and opinions entering into it. If I tell you "we are winning in Iraq" or "we are losing in Iraq" I am bringing my own opinions, interpretations, and ideas into it.

This is why it's important for you to get your information from a number of sources. What you see on the news is the same thing -- people who own the networks have their own opinions and use them to give instructions to their reporters on how to report the "facts." So if you listen to the "facts" on Fox, or on CBC, or BBC, or ZMag, or CNN, you are getting ideas of the people that are the bosses, as well as ideas that come form the reporters.

The best thing to do here is, if you disagree with your teacher, go home and read information about it, and then come back the next day and ask your teacher what they think about your different ideas.

Hope you have fun! Good for you for recognizing bias ... now please realize that *everyone* has bias, not just your teachers! Your parents, history book writers, EVERYONE has bias!!!

Answer 5

I absolutely agree. Regardless of evidence against their ideas, some teachers seem to project their biased views onto their students. I personally prefer teachers that with either teach simply the facts or give us both or all sides of the situation and less us think for ourselves. I believe its important that we are allowed to process these ideas for ourselves. That thought process is an important life skill to have. Other wise, we would all be mind-less drones just following a leader in to god knows where.

Answer 6

I think it's the job of the teacher to present the facts, present both sides of an arguement and then make the student think for themselves; form their own opinion and be able to defend it. The point is to get you to think and form your own opinion.

I don't put my opinion into my lessons. Granted I teach elementary kids and my opinions are not necessarily relavent to the lessons I teach.

The only thing I can think of to explain why a teacher would give their opinion in a lesson would be to maybe get the students to argue back? Like if they on'y present one side like you said, then maybe it's to make you want to give the other side? Debate it, kinda?

I guess you just have to listen to what the teacher says and take from it what you need. Best of luck.

Answer 7

Your example of the holocaust is unfortunate, since the evidence, including people still alive who were there, is overwhelming.

She does have an obligation to say what is, in fact, true. (She doesn't need to take the idea that the Earth is flat seriously, either.)

Regarding controversial things (that is, things that reasonable people disagree about), she should make the distinction between her own views, and present other views as well.

You should never be graded on agreement, but on the quality of your thought.

But people are people. The idea that a our views don't inflluence us is a myth.

But the smart thing to do, if a teacher is propagandizing is to pretend, for the sake of the course, and think what you want.

I don't think that teachers are there to teach facts.

I think they're there to teach you how to think, so you can think for yourself, not based on whim, but on REASON.

The "stuff" of education shouldn't be collections of fact, but ways of reasoning, concepts, lines of reasoning -- the tools of the educated mind.

You can pick up facts on your own.

Answer 8

It's impossible to SPEAK without word choice that expresses a person's own beliefs. Since recent studies show that teachers are in fact humans, the same can be applied to them. Teachers should provide students with varying viewpoints and ask that their students defend their own beliefs accordingly. My husband does a great job of this (he teaches HS English). He forces his students to think critically about a topic, and he asks questions to challenge their beliefs (thus forcing them to support their beliefs with facts).

I think it's great that you're questioning the whole process. This is EXACTLY what your teachers want from you. :)

Answer 9

The problem is, everyone looks at reality through a number of filters that were set up as you get older. And you can't really get rid of a lot of them. So many people don't see just straight facts - they see interpretations. Sure, they don't have to keep offerring their opinion on a subject, but most people can't keep a bias out of what they do.

Answer 10

that is soo crazzy.. we are learning about the holocust, and my teacher is a snoby blonde haired blue eyed bimbo. and she only tells us that it was the most real event ever. and the people who believe it never happened are retards. she also tells us the only smart people in life are the ones who read every day for at least an hour. pretty shallow. she always tells us that there is only one right way to do something. but teachers obviously arent millionares... so they cant consider themselves geniouses and tell us what to do. (they dont have the greatest life) at least my teachers..


have your own oppinion on everything :)