Why Civil Discourse?

From Phil: Student Learning, Civility, and Kindness

Several weeks ago, I met with the social studies department chairs to check in and talk about big picture items pertaining to teaching and learning in secondary social studies classes.  After a once-around check-in, we watched a part of the Simon Sinek TedTalk, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.”

Click Here for the link to Sinek's TedTalk:
The Golden Circle

In his talk, Sinek draws out a simple diagram, which he calls the “Golden Circle.”  Sinek points out that we spend lots of time talking about “What?” and “How?” but very few of us take the time to talk about “Why?”

Sinek is speaking primarily to a business audience, but his words translate to education very well.  We do spend lots of talking and thinking about what we should teach and how we should teach, but we don’t spend much time talking about the why of what and how we teach.

What is the "Why?" at the center of your Golden Circle?

The social studies department chairs took a few minutes and came up with the following list.  These are not direct quotes, but they are close—and the best I could do from my few scribbled notes:

What is at the heart of our Golden Circle in social studies?  What is our “WHY?”

• “Students should be able to form their own opinions, to learn how to think, to become life-long history learners.”
• “They need to develop the really important skills—reading, writing, thinking.  These are the skills that will help them in high school, college, and life.”
• “Knowledge is important, but applied knowledge leads to wisdom.  This is what critical thinking is all about.”
• “Civil Discourse is much needed right now.  Students need to know that that civil discourse is about reasoned arguments, not who can shout the loudest.”

Civil Discourse

As we close in on the final days before the election, I have no doubt that many, many of you feel the same way about the need for civil discourse.  If you look back over the list above, you will note that very little of the “Why?” that came from these outstanding educators is about the actual content of the class.  Rather, most of this list could apply to all classrooms in all HSE schools--especially the comment about civil discourse.

Tolstoy's words of wisdom apply to this topic as well!

This conversation was a good reminder for me about our primary purpose as educators.  I share it with you in the hopes that you may feel the same.  And I think right now is an especially good time to be reminded of the importance of civility and empathy, of staying hopeful, of remaining kind.

I would like to close with a few more thoughts that may reinforce the statements above and may resonate with how you are feeling as we head toward November 8.  I intentionally picked from a wide variety of thinkers.

Can you match the pictures to the quotes?
Another interesting question: If I wouldn't have labeled the
quotes, could you have matched the name to who said it?

•  “I think it is important that we rebuild an atmosphere of forgiveness and civility in every aspect of our lives.”  --T.D. Jakes
• “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”  --Aesop
• “When you show deep empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it.  That’s when you can get more creative in solving problems.”  --Stephen Covey
• “If you interpret your life as a battlefield then you will want to maintain control at all times…. If you treat the world as a friendly and hopeful place, as a web of relationships, you’ll look for the good news in people and not the bad. You’ll be willing to relinquish control, and in surrender you’ll actually gain more strength as people trust in your candor and come alongside.”  --David Brooks
• “Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible.”  --Dalai Lama

Respond to Phil at plederach@hse.k12.in.us






We sincerely hope your week is a good one, HSE.  Take time to look for the good by finding and providing examples of empathy, civility, and kindness.  When you do, our guess is you will find yourself closer to the inner ring of your Golden Circle. It will, perhaps, remind you and those around you of the why of what we do as educators.

Your HSE Teaching and Learning Team

• Jan Combs, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning
• Stephanie Loane, Director of Elementary Education
• Tom Bell, Director of Special Education
• Jeff Harrison, Director of Educational Technology
• Phil Lederach, Director of Secondary Education