I believe teachers who gleefully celebrate someone's brutal murder in either classroom discussion or online platforms are not fit for the job. Aside from the fact many have morals clauses in their contracts, these people are expected to be role models. If that feels too onerous for them, then they need to find other work.
I am a former teacher and the level of crazy I see coming from some of the teachers working these days blows me away. Totally inappropriate, especially for k-8, and often even 9-12. Parents have a right to expect a certain level of sanity and decorum in those entrusted with their children's education.
Do you really mean to write: "The response on the political right has been no less dangerous:"
when you follow your colon with: "the urge to answer a murder with censorship or official punishment of vile speech"? In what world is an act of censorship or official punishment _no less dangerous_ than the slaughtering of a human being?
I agree with everything you say in your essay. I only think your rhetorical effort to show an equivalence between the response of the political left and the response of the political right is inapt. The responses are not equivalent.
A fair response, but I can't help but to think we may very well see an equivalence over time. I firmly see a lot of accountability in order on both sides of the aisle. The us vs. them dynamic is pretty grim right now.
I love the idea of "civic courage" — but we need to move beyond discussions of what society should look like and actually put in the work to get there. I would love to see efforts (by FIRE and/or other organizations) to teach young people how to regulate emotions, how to think critically, how to have civil debate and how to disagree respectfully. Because it's apparent that many young people today were not properly prepared for such a world.
I believe teachers who gleefully celebrate someone's brutal murder in either classroom discussion or online platforms are not fit for the job. Aside from the fact many have morals clauses in their contracts, these people are expected to be role models. If that feels too onerous for them, then they need to find other work.
I am a former teacher and the level of crazy I see coming from some of the teachers working these days blows me away. Totally inappropriate, especially for k-8, and often even 9-12. Parents have a right to expect a certain level of sanity and decorum in those entrusted with their children's education.
Dear Mr. Lukianoff:
Do you really mean to write: "The response on the political right has been no less dangerous:"
when you follow your colon with: "the urge to answer a murder with censorship or official punishment of vile speech"? In what world is an act of censorship or official punishment _no less dangerous_ than the slaughtering of a human being?
I agree with everything you say in your essay. I only think your rhetorical effort to show an equivalence between the response of the political left and the response of the political right is inapt. The responses are not equivalent.
James Addis
Hackensack, New Jersey
A fair response, but I can't help but to think we may very well see an equivalence over time. I firmly see a lot of accountability in order on both sides of the aisle. The us vs. them dynamic is pretty grim right now.
I love the idea of "civic courage" — but we need to move beyond discussions of what society should look like and actually put in the work to get there. I would love to see efforts (by FIRE and/or other organizations) to teach young people how to regulate emotions, how to think critically, how to have civil debate and how to disagree respectfully. Because it's apparent that many young people today were not properly prepared for such a world.
Another take on violence https://torrancestephensphd.substack.com/p/cant-claim-being-american-running