i have made the transition to FT teaching (see signature below) and this 
semester am teaching a social problems course.

struck me today...by calling it social "problems," we seem to be abdicating 
that notion of detached observation that is part and parcel of science. isn't 
it really all just about behavior? the "problematic" part is a judgement (by 
different parties). i realize that these points come out in the course of 
teaching the class, but aren't we entering into a discussion of human behavior 
from an already biased standpoint?

do we really need a course in social "problems?" i mean isn't social/human 
behavior what we are stuyding? isn't all behavior "valid" from a scientific 
standpoint? i guess what i am saying is wouldn't the course be better titled, 
"typical social responses to selective types of human behavior?" by calling it 
"problems," we are implying that the behavior that populations of interest 
engage in is somehow fundamentally problematic.

just wondering aloud...

john

John E. Glass, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
Colin County Community College
Preston Ridge Campus
9700 Wade Boulevard
Frisco, TX 75035
+1-972-377-1622
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has 
been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would 
suffice.
- Albert Einstein

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