By Mr. Duermeyer’s Period 1, 3, and 4 students
Students from Mr. Duermeyer’s ELA classes recently participated in a Socratic Seminar that was hosted by student teacher, Ms. Elizabeth Schrim, a Point Park student who has been working at SAMS since January.
The Seminar required students to learn how to properly use a set of vocabulary words during a classroom discussion that addressed ethical and moral questions that were tied to literature from class.
For example, students were asked about the pros and cons of conformity, a theme that was addressed during The Outsiders. Students discussed how conformity can be harmful when peer pressure leads students to make poor or dangerous decisions. The alternative view was that conformity is sometimes required, especially when in a public school, where rules and regulations are expected and required for all students.
Prior to the seminar, students were taught about Socrates and his approach to thought. They learned how he was a philosopher who asked questions of bystanders and reflected on their answers through group discussion. He believed in truth, reflection, and critical thinking, a skill that middle school students must develop. They also learned how his skeptical nature led to a trial and execution on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth of Athens.
Another question that led to good discussion involved rebellion, a theme from The Giver. Students were asked when rebellion was appropriate and whether restrictions can incite rebellion. Students argued over government influence and how controversial laws can produce the opposite result. They referenced when Jonas left “The Community” with Baby Gabriel in an attempt to break free from the oppression of the his government, which had eliminated choice and feelings in an attempt to create a perfect society.
Gabby Clarke argued that Jonas’ rebellion was “fair, because he gave Baby Gabriel a chance at a good life by taking him from the community.”
In Ray Bradbury’s Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed, humans seek refuge on Mars after New York is destroyed by an atomic bomb. The story has themes of imperialism, and students were asked if there are dangers in invading or exploring foreign lands.
In the story, the humans move to Mars and do everything they can to make it Earthlike. They claim things that are not theirs, rename mountain ranges, and build Earth-style villages. All the while, Mars is changing them into Martians, and the story ends with the settlers having none of their humanity left. The students discussed how governments have tried, largely unsuccessfully, to impose their beliefs on people around the world. This led to discussion about whether countries should impose their philosophies, beliefs, religions, or laws on other countries, and what dangers exist in expecting others to become something they are not.
The best discussion came from The Monsters are Due on Maple Street, a classic Twilight Zone episode that warns viewers of scapegoating, mob mentalities, and finger pointing. In the episode, actual Monsters turn the residents of Maple Street against one another by tinkering with their machines and turning off their power. Confused and upset, the characters quickly point to each other, which leads to the street’s destruction. Students argued that humans struggle when faced with the unknown. Several said that it is easier to point fingers than it is to accept responsibility.
“People are naive and they fall for things easily,” Carson Dabbs said. “Humans will do the same thing that everyone else is doing.”
Finally, students were asked about the dangers of space exploration, and whether America should invest in space when there are problems on planet Earth. The discussion was mixed, with some students pointing to the importance of discovery and others claiming the money would be better spent elsewhere. The students also debated if it is okay to put humans into dangerous situations in the name of science where death is a very real possibility.
“We haven’t even explored all of our own planet yet,” said Aubrey McElhone. “We should explore space eventually but there is so much more about our own planet that we do not understand.”
The SAMS Salmon 