Discussion in a Democratic Society

     I really enjoyed reading this article. I felt that the author hit on some really great points. One line that he said that really stood out to me was "To see a topic come alive as diverse and complex views multiply is one of the most powerful experiences we can have as learners and teachers" (3). I think this says a lot about the article. In order to fully understand a piece of literature or article, we as teachers and/or students need to hear and fully listen to the opinions around us. The idea of democracy within discussion is extremely smart. I like how this author compares discussion in a classroom to something such as mountain climbing. In classes, it can be intimidating for both teachers and students to go into a discussion. Students may feel extreme pressure to say the right thing or to simply not look stupid. Teachers are responsible for facilitating and keeping the class on the right track. In order for this to happen, teachers need to set good guidelines and make sure that students have respect for their peers opinions. 

     One of the most interesting parts in this article was when he mentions the participation among students. Even though this was a very small part of the article, I found it very interesting. From my experience in the classroom so far, it seems that many of the smartest students will not participate in discussion because they don't want to look "dumb". This article mentions how small groups can be a good stepping stone for these students. If these students become comfortable with a small group of students and receive positive feedback, they will be more likely to talk in front of the class. I have personally seen this happen time and time again in my classroom. I usually take on about 4-5 students who are having trouble understanding the material. After our small group, 1-2 students from that group usually will participate in a full on class discussion. Small groups are a great way to get kids used to the idea of discussion without added pressure. This article points out that critical discussion works best when a large group of students participate. I think this can be true in some scenarios. I think our goal as teachers should be to get the majority of the class talking.  If we as teachers are not providing a comfortable or safe environment, students will be less likely to speak their minds when it comes to discussion. We as teachers have to encourage our students thoughts and ideas, otherwise they may not be comfortable to speak up again.
     I really enjoyed reading this article. I thought the author had great ideas and summed up discussion in a way that I have not thought about it before until now.