If You Disagree, Unfriend Me!

Where is the Socratic Seminar when we need it?

If the adults on FaceBook are models for our children, it is not surprising educators have difficulty teaching students to honor multiple perspectives and keep the peace, so to speak.

Let me explain.  On the same day in June of this year, while glancing through the Home pages on FaceBook, I viewed the two comments below:

• "If you are not voting for Hilary Clinton, you can unfriend me."
• "If you support Hillary Clinton, please unfriend me."  

Wow!  What is a person to do?  I've seen similar comments such as, "If you don't agree, you can unfriend me" and “If you don’t like ___, please unfriend me!”  I'm just wondering when we reached the point that we cannot respectfully disagree with one another and still remain friends?

So back to my question: Where is the Socratic Seminar when we need it, and why do we need it?

Socratic comes from the name Socrates.  Socrates (ca. 470-399 B.C.) was a Greek philosopher who developed a respected theory of knowledge.  The seminar is a collaborative, intellectual dialogue, facilitated with open-ended questions about text, values and ideas. 

The seminar is best regarded for developing higher order thinking.  However, because it is a protocol for a respectful conversation, the seminar is valuable for teaching essential life skills, as well.

The following are typical seminar agreements for participants:

• Think deeply about the ideas and values expressed in the conversation, examining the various perspectives with an open mind.
• Address others respectfully by using others’ names. 
• Agree constructively by adding and making connections to the comments of others.  Respectfully disagree constructively by saying phrases such as, “I disagree with ______ because ____________.”
• Listen by looking at the speaker, perhaps taking notes, and not talking while another is talking.  (No sidebars.  No interruptions.)
• Refer to ideas and text by citing specific information and quoting actual passages and accurate information to support a point of view.  (In other words, your emotions are not evidence of fact!)
• Share the talk time.

In our consulting, Larry and I promote and coach the Socratic Seminar, because we can think of no better instructional strategy for our students as they develop their thinking, problem-solving and social skills.

The above focuses on the participant’s role.  A Socratic Seminar requires time and strategic planning on the part of the teacher.  In my next post I’ll focus on the facilitator/teacher role.

For now, wouldn’t it be nice if the seminar guidelines could somehow be transferred to FaceBook?