Speaking in a Critical Voice

When I think about Social Studies in my elementary school, middle school, and even in my AP U.S. History in high school, all I remember was worksheets.  I could count on every Monday in AP U.S. History we would have a study guide for a chapter, then Tuesday, he would go over the answers, Wednesday we had another study guide for the next chapter, then Thursday he would go over the answers, and then Friday would be a test.  Then, the pattern kept going. 

This article describes teachers with a lack of understanding, development, and/or use of critical voice.  "They did what they were told, what they had been taught, or what they themselves had experienced in their schooling."  I'm not saying worksheets and note taking aren't effective strategies, and is typically what has been done in the past, but not everyone learns that way.  In this article, none of the teachers spoke up to administrators, state officials, or school boards.  They wanted to play it safe and not cause a stir with new methods of teaching, thinking critically, or thinking outside the box. 

What better way of teaching Social Studies...interactive learning, analyzing different perspectives, or doing something fun, yet entertaining.  "Every teacher has to have a solid grasp of his assumptions about how people learn and how that translates into the kind of environment the teacher will provide."  "...if he [a teacher] doesn't know what his own beliefs are about teaching and learning, he shouldn't be teaching at all." 

Critical voice- taking the time to analyze directives, mandates, and messages from whatever the sources and then use that analysis to speak up about issues willingly and strongly to the power sources.  Don't have a critical voice? Learn to get one.