Blog Post #3

Both James Baldwin’s “A Talk to Teachers” and Clint Smith’s “James Baldwin’s Lesson for Teachers in a Time of Turmoil” emphasizes how education should more so be not just memorization, but preparing their students for standardized tests. Baldwin argues that the purpose of education is to teach students to think independently, question society, as well as being able to recognize injustices within the school system as well as outside. Smith further builds on this idea as teachers can connect classroom lessons to real-world issues that will affect their students in the present and the future.

One idea that had stood out to me was Baldwin’s argument also challenges the idea that teachers should be encouraging their students to question what they are taught instead of simply accepting everything at face-value or as the truth. I think this is important in the area of teaching history as textbooks do not always include every perspective to fully explain the experiences of different groups of people. History is written by the victors, not the losers. As a future history teacher, I want my students to understand different perspectives, think critically about historical events and people, as well as feel comfortable to ask questions. I also agree with Smith’s point that teachers should not ignore current events and social issues just to stay focused on the curriculum. As much as some people may not like talking about politics, it influences our everyday life, and we cannot run away from it. Students will be able to bring their own personal experiences and concerns to the classroom, and further discussing these topics can also help them feel heard and connected to what they are learning. 

These readings also made me think about the responsibility teachers have when creating a supportive classroom where they allow students to feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions. Teachers also should not just tell students what to think, but instead help them develop their deeper thinking skills to further enhance their own opinions by using evidence and reasoning. Overall, both James Baldwin readings reinforce my beliefs that teaching, specifically teaching history, isn't just about learning important dates, events, and people, but it is about helping your students understand the world around them as a whole.