How do we talk about issues that matter?

I think that when discussing issues that matter it's important to keep an open mind. Just because someone might see something one way and you may see it another doesn't mean you can't listen, they could still add something new to your perspective or vice versa. It should never be seen as a contest of who knows more than who, but as a way for you and everyone involved to reach a greater understanding. One thing you can do when engaging in discussion on issues that matter is to keep a moderate tone. No one wants to feel less than, or that you're trying to prove somehow that they are wrong. By keeping a moderate tone you will be easier to follow along with and you will also make the audience feel more comfortable. As someone that is diagnosed with social anxiety, I know how hard it can be to talk to people in general, let alone on issues that matter that are more than likely controversial. Learning how to control your emotions in these situations could be a good place to start if you share the same fear of talking to people as I do. Try just sitting back and really listening and thinking about the topic at hand and what the speaker is saying about it. Thinking clearly about something before you speak will allow you to give your thoughts on the issue in a more confident and put-together way, which in the end will benefit both you and your audience.  

How is Teaching Portrayed to the Public?

 In movies, tv shows, and even books, teachers can be portrayed as miracle workers who can somehow change every single one of their students' lives in the time they're in their classroom. We see this usually with a white person being the teacher and the students being people of color. The movie "Freedom Writers" is an example of this. In the movie, we see Erin Gruwell, an eager first-year teacher, who is assigned to teach a class of teenagers from culturally marginalized backgrounds. Gruwell's first few attempts to connect with her new students do not go as well as she hopes. As the year continues, however, they establish a very strong connection to where Gruwell will do almost anything to see her students learning and succeeding. She goes as far as picking up two extra jobs in order to pay to get her student's new books and to take them on field trips. With how much time she was dedicating to ensure her students were succeeding, she left very little time to spend with her husband. This left her husband feeling not worthy of her time and ultimately ended in them getting a divorce. I think "Freedom Writers" is a good movie with an overall amazing message being sent, however, I think it paints teachers in a very unrealistic light. Many teachers would not be able to sacrifice as much as Gruwell did and they should not be expected to. Many people see movies like this one and assume that is what teachers should be like and that's just not the case at all.