Talking Philosophy and I Get Labeled Crazy???

[voiceeyeshands]

A while ago I was talking about philosophy with some of my students (I teach middle school). I was talking to them about how sometimes reality can be ambiguous. Like how do I know that what I experience as reality is what everyone else experiences? I brought up the topic for fun to see what my students thought, and later one of my class aides asked me about it. She basically told me, she thought I needed to see a counselor. And I told her, I was only discussing philosophy with the kids - but then it struck me later that maybe she has never read any philosophy.

Was it wrong for me to discuss philosophy with my students? I was really surprised when she thought what I was saying sounded odd, as its what was discussed in a lot of my college classes (I was a Poly Sci major, and I took many Political Theory courses).

[skittlebottom]

Please don't be surprised. Lots of people don't like to see their realities disputed and are prone to object. That said, I'm sure she's simply less educated than you are and didn't understand what you were saying.

You were not in the least bit wrong, in my opinion.

Be glad you don't (or I hope you don't) work in a Catholic school! I was labeled crazy there too, and I was just one of the little philosophers...

[Tony Montana]

Teachers unfortunately usually don't talk about philosophy or anything outside the box. I think its perfectly fine to talk about philosophy in class, but there is always someone who will get offended and ruin it for everyone. And schools always worry about teachers talking about philosphy because of that. But thats the kind of world we live in....

[tomlevi11]

Well, I don't want to be rude, but my mom works as a sub, and she tells me the stories. From what I gather, aides are not the most inteligent or interested people on earth.

So, your question is very interesting, something I thought about as well. But tackling middle-schoolers with philosophy is a tough one.....