The "IDEA JAR"
Reading [
Lesson 3]
Glossary terms at end of each page of reading
Looking for ideas to help you be more neutral? Reach into this
"jar" to consider three
possibilities. You could
choose to employ any or all of these ideas in order to bring more rhyme
and reason (and neutrality) to your classroom situation. Preview each of
the three below. Then click to read elaborations in any order.
PREVIEW
Idea 1—"Classroom as Microcosm"
What about thinking of your classroom as an American microcosm reflecting in some ways a larger national
situation? That way, you can aim that
"small world of yours" for the highest of our nation's civic ideals. The realities in our country at
large clearly do not always live up to the nation's stated principles.
On your turf, though, you can draw youngsters nearer to national ideals
regarding religion
and the citizenry. You are so central to what goes on within your classroom that you can lead its
"citizens" to
surpass national status quo performance. You can achieve a level of
habitual interaction well above what
one can reasonably expect to exist outside your microcosm.
Idea 2—"E Pluribus Unum"
How about putting this expression to good
use? Wrapped in the Latin phrase is an important national ideal—"many united".
You may find this familiar sentiment quite handy as you seek to establish
a common "classroom terrain" and pursue strategies that will draw together
the "citizenry" within your microcosm in harmony despite some rather intense
differences.
Idea 3—
"Lingo Lifting"
Want a challenging idea? Here's one.
It's tough, but it's
powerful: "Speak with an accent—an accent on civic inclusiveness and
equality." What this means is that you strive to free
yourself from any one-sidedness of language that works against the civic
notion of religious neutrality. This means trying to choose, adopt and use
words
with that idea paramount in your mind.
