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johnslat · Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2004 12:08 pm Post subject: As long as it's reasonable

Dear lajzar,

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

I said *reasonable* foundation. And I said *aversion*. I did not claim that active persecution was reasonable, merely avoidance. And I don't believe for one minute that the klan had a reasonable foundation, although I am entirely aware that "reasonable" is an entirely subjective word, I could find no other without getting into a few reams of legalese.

I had hoped a reasonable (sic) person would take a reasonable (sic) view on the bounds of reasonability (sic).

johnslat · Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2004 1:18 pm Post subject: Once more - with feeling

Dear lajzar,
Sorry, but even with the "qualifiers", I still find your statement

Teacher Lindsay · Joined: 31 Mar 2004 Posts: 393 Location: Luxian, Sichuan

Johnslat

Is there such a thing as 'reasoned emotionalism?

Reasoning is distinct from feeling, yes?

Cheers

johnslat · Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2004 1:49 pm Post subject: You can say that again

Dear Teacher Lindsay,

Circumlocutionary redundancy is often a planned strategy, used by qualified professionals to give added, further emphasis to a disputatious argument. Or at least that's my feeling.
Regards, regards,
John John

Aramas · Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2004 2:46 pm Post subject:

blackguy-n-Asia · Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 201

I agree with stillnosheep.

There is never any justification to keep people apart because of some political or racial/historical/sanctomonius reasons.

I wouldn't care if we were in downtown Jerusalem, I would teach and mix up both groups.....until I was assasinated Very Happy

, but I'd do it on principal!

We are talking about Pre-judging, or prejudice and there is no justification, no matter the preambling reasons.

As teachers, WE have the right to teach more than just english, we can teach HUMANITY as well.

God Bless the United Nations and their charter of human rights Cool

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

The Palestinian-Israeli example I would consider a particularly strong example. Remember, Israel is a country with conscription, to the extent that conscientious objectors are vilified. It is an entirely reasonable assumption to say that any random Israeli over a certain age has performed military service for Israel, and nearly all of Israel's military actions are in Palestine.

I grant that the Russian example was a weak one.

Yes, I realise these are stereotypes, but it is also a stereotype to assume that first year Japanese JHS students have little or no knowledge of English, or that people with degrees have a certain level of maturity, or that people with teaching credentials know how to teach. There are exemptions to these stereotypes, and you adjust for them once you know teh person properly, but I'd suggest that any employer who did not have the proper credentials = good teacher stereotype is crazy.

Unreasoned hatred is wrong. Mis-reasoned hatred is wrong. But I entirely understand a not particualrly brave person who chooses to avoid a person similar to people who have persecuted people like himself. Call that sympathy with racism if you like.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

If someone doesn't like their partner, big deal. There have been plenty of people whom I haven't liked and yet had to work next to. I didn't ask to move. Unless two people have a personal past, than everyone sits next to whomever I choose. I had a fight once in class between an Iranian and Iraqi. Kind of glad I couldn't undersatand what they said. I lectured them about their behavior and threatened to expel them from the school if they ever did it again. They were adults. They were much better after that.
I would sit an Israeli and Palestinian next to one another depending on where I was teaching. Just because governments are at odds doesn't mean we have to go along with that.

Dr.J · Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 304 Location: usually Japan

If I may make a slightly bold statement,

Why not make it your aim to teach these people to work together in harmony rather than get them to learn English? It seems to me that they would benefit as people much more from the former, and you would feel better too.

I always find that I end up teaching English+1001 other things, including, how not to be rude, how to organise your own thoughts, how to be confident etc etc. At least here you have a worthy challenge.

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

Were my job to treach world harmony and peace, I certainly would make them sit together. Were my job to maximise student numbers and ensure a steady income for my employer and thus me, I wouldn't.

Fortunately, I am not in that situation. The nearest I have to that is, s I noted earlier, making boys and girls work in the same classroom.