Response to Scenario 1

For the reading for Scenario I, there were very interesting situations where teachers responded to students who were either problematic, or the material they covered proved to be a point of conflict.  However, the teacher who had an issue with the student writing about abortion rights, I think she wore her emotions on her sleeve far too easily, thus permitting this confrontational student to get a rise out of her.  I think this situation was more problematic than others because it evolved into something that could not be "handled in house" if you will.  Her job was compromised.  This is not to suggest that other situations --anytime students seek to write as a means to create episodes of seduction has problems written all over it -- were not troublesome.  But her response to the student's prospectus did not contain any didactic leverage, so it came off as personally motivated as opposed to being anchored in the spirit of instruction.  She should have known that people would have exactly the same emotional energy against freedom of choice as she has for freedom of choice.  And that includes the ridiculous notion that her student argued for: abortion is okay because it deals with promiscuous women and their lifestyle.  To the teacher's credit, we need more people adamant about serious issues that concern humanity.  But when it comes to responding to student's writing, even those we are uncomfortable with, it is important that we stay in tune with duties of instruction and keep that idea afloat to minimize unnecessary didactic setbacks.