Henry A. Giroux

While listening to Henry Giroux speak about education in the United States, I felt pretty lucky that I have been teaching in Canada. I couldn't believe that schools have surveillance straight to the police departments and a simple thing as having a temper tantrum got a 6 year old children arrested. What is the world coming too, when a child can't let out their emotions. It is sad that schools are becoming militarized – drug sniffing dogs, metal detectors etc. When he asked the question if 13 year olds should be tried in court, I would respond saying it completely depends on the situation. My feelings are that if a 13 year old can pick up a gun and murder someone, they should face the consequences, and they should be tried as an adult. I thought it was crazy that a University professor in Arizona would be fined 500 dollars if they were to advocate a particular political position. I can't imagine being in a classroom and not being able to speak my mind for fear of being fined.
My final thoughts deal with Hannah's question regarding higher education..(sorry if I spelt your name wrong). I really thought that Girouxs answer was interesting......
"Students need to have a bigger role in governance, no student should be in a room with 80 students, no student should be in a class with a prof, who only teaches 8 classes a semester, they should have the best resources possible, What do you want in your dream world education? Do you want teachers who are qualified or who can barely keep up? As soon as you become a consumer you have diminished your responsibility to become a global citizen"
It is definitely something interesting to think about!
Karen M