Teaching Students to Debate

 I plan on writing about this on Substack but for now will note that in recent years students have appeared to be more apt to level accusations than to argue for a particular side.

The idea that accusation is sufficient is very dangerous. The ability to convince instead of simple intimidation requires the ability to research and reason.

Absent those positive skills, we're at the mercy of smash and grab artists.

Just as a mother and a father are key members of a family, so too is reason a key part of education.

Unfortunately, a great deal of modern education has focused on accusation more than serious analysis. 

[Let's call Rudyard Kipling a racist and dismiss anything he ever wrote.]

Healthy debates would be an important way to foster crucial skills.

And here is the simple question that should be frequently asked: 

What are the best arguments for the opposing side?

We May Be Seeing Far More of These Outrages

 Former Member of Parliament Ann Widdecombe was murdered.

An arrest has been made.

Grab These!

 Nicholas Bate is offering a bargain on several of his books.

He's also working on another novel which I eagerly await.

Films About Totalitarianism: A Series

 

Many of Us Achieve by Omission

 

What we choose not to do may - I suspect will - turn out to play a far more powerful role in our success than what we choose to do.

Along with your To Do List, consider your Avoid List.

Hmm

 

The Intangibles Can Be Powerful

 

Two for Wisdom

 When asked which novels present the largest amount of wisdom about life, these are my choices.

[I strongly recommend Ann Dunnigan's translation of Tolstoy's novel.]

As Maine Goes

 People can reasonably shudder at the very idea that an unstable man with a Nazi tattoo who assaults women could be nominated for the Senate, but if they saw the campaign operatives who were behind producing this fiasco, they'd be even more horrified.

Don't ignore the men and women behind the curtain.

Films About Totalitarianism: A Series