Mike's Question

Mike's Question: Is it appropriate for teachers to express their opinions to their students?

Honestly, I think expressing opinions to students can be a controversial issue that may cause more harm than good. While context and subject matter are definitely important, there are certainly some issues in which opinions should not be discussed. As a future educator, I would not feel the least uncomfortable if a student asked me whether I preferred chocolate ice cream over vanilla. A subject such as this may evoke some minor teasing from vanilla-lovers if I answered chocolate, but overall would have any measurable affect on how the students felt about me or my credibility as a teacher.

Unfortunately, other topics may not be regarded in the same light. Take, for example, the subject of abortion. Supposing I was pro-life and shared this opinion with my class, I may have some serious oppositions from pro-choice students. Being the touchy subject that it is, I may also have angry parents contacting the school and accusing me of trying to teach the students to be pro-life. Often, sharing one's opinion with a class can be mistaken for trying to teach one's opinion to the class.

When we were in high school, my brother and I had a teacher who was a proud vegan and animal rights activist. While she did not try to convince the class to become vegans or vegetarians as well, the students were aware of her lifestyle and frequently asked questions about it. She shared her views honestly and openly and agreed to show a PEDA video to the class after relentless begging on behalf of the students. After viewing this video, my brother vowed that he wouldn't eat another piece of meat ever again (and he still hasn't). My mother was outraged because she had to begin buying him special foods which were expensive. She felt as though this teacher was trying to teach the students to become vegetarians and that she should have asked the parents for permission to show the video. While I understand my mother's complaints, as a member of the class, I also understood that this was not the teacher's intentions. However, the sharing of such controversial opinions may lead to mistaken perceptions and accusatory beliefs.

Can you think of a time when your teachers may have shared an opinion to this degree with your class and what effects did it have, if any?