Education Week - March 24, 2021 - 16

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How to Engage Respectfully
On Education's Flash Points
Political polarization isn't inevitable
We talk a
lot about
courageous
conversations,
but there's
nothing
courageous
about a roomful
of people
nodding in
agreement.

Frederick M. Hess, the director of education policy
studies at American Enterprise Institute who writes
for the Education Week Rick Hess Straight Up opinion
blog, and Pedro A. Noguera, the dean of the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education, have spent the past couple decades on different
sides of big educational debates, but they both believe
seeking mutual understanding is vital. In their recently published book, A Search for Common Ground:
Conversations About the Toughest Questions in
K-12 Education, they share an extended correspondence that started before the pandemic and continued many months into the lockdown, in which they
seek to understand each other's points of view. Here
they share some of the takeaways from that exercise.

Pedro A. Noguera: We witnessed one of the
most troubling attacks on democracy in the history
of our country play out in January. There's a lot of
polarization in America and not a lot of principled
discussion to reach better understanding. Many
people choose to live in echo chambers and consume media that reinforces their opinions and values, and that's not good for a democratic society.
You and I were able to have a respectful dialogue
about some of the polarizing issues in education for
more than a year. Given the current political context in the country, do you think it's still possible to
have civil dialogue amid disagreement?
Frederick M. Hess: In the aftermath of the
assault on the Capitol and the shadow of Donald
Trump's campaign of lies, things feel bleak even a
few months later. It can feel like the anger, suspicion, and distrust bred by a 24/7 social-media culture are at risk of tearing our nation apart. However, even as the fierce partisans on each side look to
stoke and justify their anger, most Americans want
something better. For many, the big question may
be what you and I learned in this exercise that might
aid those seeking to escape the culture of distrust.
What helped make our collaboration a success?
Noguera: You and I know from years of experience and talking to superintendents that practicality in these discussions is essential. We need leadership and the will to solve the challenges facing our

16 | EDUCATION WEEK | March 24, 2021 | www.edweek.org/opinion

schools and to address the needs of our most vulnerable children. When people of different backgrounds work together, we have a better chance of
solving problems and furthering educational opportunity. It's easy to be an ideologue when you're
not in charge of things, but you have to deal with
complexity and nuance when you're seeking practical solutions. It's a mistake to fall into the trap of
viewing every issue as cut and dried.
Hess: For me, the biggest takeaway may have
been just how much our modes of engagement can
shape the content of our exchange. In a culture
shaped by tweets, sound bites, and viral videos, we
all tend to have conversations in the moment, with
passions running hot and more focus on talking than
on listening. You and I have done plenty of media
appearances and panels where it feels like what everyone wants to hear is a killer quip or a devastating
rebuttal. It leaves little room to ask honest questions,
listen, or reflect on what's being said. That requires
time, patience, and emotional distance, which are
exactly the kinds of things that an extended email
conversation-like ours-can make possible.
Noguera: Listening and slowing down your
response also lets you take the time to consider
the other person's perspective. It's easy to vilify
those we disagree with if we fail to reflect, especially on issues as complex as those in education.
During our exchanges, we avoided this tendency
by taking time to really listen to where the other
person was coming from as we explained how and
why we think the way we do about the issues. We
shared the information and evidence that we rely
upon to inform our views and perspectives. For
example, when we discussed school discipline, we
acknowledged the need for schools to be safe and
treat children fairly and that this requires helping
schools respond to the causes of behavioral challenges instead of simply punishing kids. Delving
into each other's views on these questions helped
us see where points of agreement lived within our
larger differences.
Hess: Today, when there's terrific pressure to be
a reliable member of one's team, sharing heterodox
thoughts or even just being open-minded can be
costly. You and I are fortunate to have reputations

and roles that afford us some insulation. Many others don't. They wind up dragooned by professional
demands or peer pressure into espousing dogma
and enforcing adherence to their party line. Educational leaders, advocates, funders, and faculty
troubled by polarization need to do more to support
those willing to reach across the divides. We talk
a lot about courageous conversations, but there's
nothing courageous about a roomful of people nodding in agreement. How can we help get more courage into those courageous conversations, especially
in schools and universities?
Noguera: I've been concerned for some time
with how political correctness has influenced
discourse on college campuses. On the one hand,
respect in the classroom is essential for teaching
and learning. On the other hand, if faculty or students are ostracized because they say something
that is deemed insensitive, it can become stifling. I
encourage my students to let me know if someone
(including me) has said something they regard
as offensive so it can be addressed. And, since it's
important for students to learn about different perspectives on social and political issues that impact
education, I frequently include readings from conservative authors to ensure students are exposed to
perspectives that differ from my own. If students
don't encounter views they disagree with, they will
be unprepared for the real world.
Hess: In revolutionary France, the Jacobin rallying cry was, " No enemies to the left, no friends
to the right. " They meant that no disagreements
should get in the way of standing with one's allies,
against one's perceived enemies. For too many
influencers in our debates today, on both sides of
the divide, I fear that has become a mantra. When
I teach grad students, undergrads, or educators,
I strive to challenge those reflexive certainties.
That requires having competing voices in the room
and working to present the moral and emotional
rationales that underlie competing perspectives. It
also requires giving learners the chance to reflect,
listen, and sleep on the exchanges and not just spar
over familiar disputes. Educators are charged with
just this crucial work. That's a big responsibility but
perhaps an even bigger opportunity.

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Education Week - March 24, 2021

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