Hank Goldstein and all -
That's interesting. I think that part of education for grown-ups necessarily
involves being acquainted with some pretty nasty stuff. As one of a number of
tutors in a Freshman Western Civ. course a few years ago, I had to "do" some
of Hitler's more virulent anti-semetic arguments in the original (well,
translated to English). I was fairly anxious about it. I explained at some
length why I was uncomfortable ("I am not 'teaching racism.'"), why, although
it would be more pleasant to walk around than to step in this stuff, I thought
it was important to examine the facts and logic objectively (Dismissing Hitler
as "a monster" begs the question of how people become monsters and of why they
can be so persuasive.) I asked all the tutorial students how they felt about
it -- generally, the attitude was that they thought that they could handle it
-- they seemed a little surprised that I was making such a fuss. Asked
individually, seven said yes, positively, we should do it, two shurgged and
said OK (and the other four were absent, but probably not because of the
topic). Until the tutorial, I either hadn't read these particular parts of
Mein Kampf, or I had forgot (repression?). I was astonished that the logic was
so weak, and that the "facts" were so transparently nonsense -- it had been a
long time since that particular hate campaign, of course -- I guess I'd check
ahead very carefully to see what I would confront before sending students to
any new hate material -- there must be far more clever racists than Hitler out
there. I don't think I'd ask undergrads to look for hate sites without giving
my little explanatory speil in advance, either.
2 cents worth, Canadian. (Don't do the arithmetic!)
-David
Hank Goldstein wrote:
> I am thinking about assigning a visit to a hate-group web site for my
> Intro. Psych. students later this semester, prior to discussing social
> psych. (conformity, prejudice, etc.). Have any of you tried something like
> this? Any thoughts about the wisdom (or lack thereof) of giving such an
> assignment? Risks? Benefits? Thanks for any reactions you care to share.
> Peace,
> Hank Goldstein
> =======================================================================
> Hank Goldstein, Ph.D. | PHONE: (319) 588-6305
> Department of Psychology | FAX: (319) 588-6789
> Clarke College | EMAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Dubuque, IA 52001 |
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> "You can always spot a well-informed person; her/his views are the
> same as yours."
> Ilka Chase [paraphrased]
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
--
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David G. Likely, Department of Psychology,
University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, N. B., E3B 5A3 Canada
History of Psychology:
http://www.unb.ca/web/psychology/likely/psyc4053.htm
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