Classroom Discourse as Civil Discourse

One look at social media, talk shows, or the comment sections of online articles reveals an uncomfortable truth: Few people are able to exercise civility as they exercise their right to free speech. Personal attacks and inflammatory language are the norm. Potentially healthy, invigorating debate quickly devolves into shouting matches and emotional accusations. John Dewey's (1899) observation, "There's all the difference in the world between having something to say, and having to say something," has never been more evident.

That the adults in our society struggle to engage in—and model—productive dispute does not bode well for younger citizens. For most children, school is the first place where they encounter unfamiliar perspectives and viewpoints. Whose job is it to teach students how to engage in challenging conversations, rather than retreat from them? Who should show students the difference between mudslinging and measured debate, or what it means to voice without venting? Although it "takes a village" to show the next generation the "dos and don'ts," teachers have considerable power—and responsibility—to use the classroom as a place to model and practice civil discourse.

Acquiring the Skills of Civility