Political moments in the classroom

the long version

This book reprises the conversations of a group of educators in the writing program at Syracuse University over the course of two years. Through edited transcripts, reflective essays, and commentary, a panorama of political events unfolds as the participants share stories about their classroom experiences. We see teachers reflecting on their roles as facilitators, discussion leaders, audience, and employees. We see students presenting opinions that polarize a classroom. We see academic departments embroiled in controversy as the traditional canon is accepted, challenged, or enlarged. And we see educators from across the political spectrum questioning what and how to teach - and why. Appropriate for educators in all disciplines, Political Moments in the Classroom will have special meaning for teachers of writing and composition, whose classrooms engage directly the dynamics of language and power.