Finding Myself in My Students

What can you relate to in this story? If this is an example of a self-study, how would you define a self-study? Did you notice how pp. 56 & 57 are kind of like an entry in TWS section 1?

Tracking

How would you summarize the research on tracking/heterogeneous grouping? What did you think of the main article we read? Are you in favor of tracking or against it? Why?

The Gap

Between the two articles I gave you and the one I wrote you've seen gobs of possible reasons why an achievement gap exists. Of course the problem is complicated, and there isn't any one reason for it. Probably nearly all the theories provided do have some merit. But if you had to try to pinpoint the most significant theories you've read, which combination would you choose? Which seem to be the ones at play at your school? Pull together ideas from the three articles to create your personal theory of the gap. Then come back later and comment on someone else's theory.

Gay Marriage

How did you feel about Richard Mouw? Can you think of other public figures who are open to truly respectful debate, people who deeply consider and try to admire the views of their opponents? Can you think of public figures who have been willing to take a side that is unpopular with their political party or religious group? Have you ever changed your mind completely about a commonly debated issue? How did that happen? If you are Democrat, is there at least one issue where you can say, “The Republicans are more in the right on this” or vice versa?

What makes people gay?

In your first post, explain one study in this article that another student hasn’t explained yet. Hopefully by the time everyone posts, all the various studies will be summarized. Then in your second post, what do you think of all this research? Do you think homosexuality is innate or chosen? If a study were to come out that definitively proved that sexual orientation is innate and unchangeable, do you think that would change the opinion of Americans who currently feel homosexuality is morally wrong?

From Teasing to Torment

Are the statistics in this study higher or lower than you would have expected? What have you noticed about teasing, harassment, or use of gay slurs in the schools you have been working in or in the schools you attended?