Author: Scot Wilson

Humans, Animals, and Viruses

Posted on by Scot Wilson

PangolinThe COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak is believed to have started at a wildlife market in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It is unclear which species transferred the virus to humans, but scientists largely agree on the point of origin.1 The 2002 outbreak of SARS, another type of coronavirus, began under similar circumstances.2

LISTEN: A 13-minute podcast from Scientific American on “COVID-19: The Wildlife Trade and Human Disease”

Some nations are already taking steps to ban the types of wildlife trade and markets that serve as hotspots for viral transmission from animals to humans. China announced a permanent ban on the wildlife trade in February, but the new law has loopholes that worry some conservationists.3 Vietnam has enacted a similar ban, and other neighboring nations seem poised to follow.4

VIEW: A series of infographics shows how the wildlife trade fits in the Chinese economy

Conservationists and animal rights activists have called for bans on the practice for decades, and now public health experts are joining that fight. “This issue is not just a conservation issue anymore,” said Grace Ge Gabriel of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. “It’s a public health issue, a biosafety issue and a national security issue.”5

In a powerful essay published by The Hill, Cyril Christo writes, “The coronavirus did not manifest from nowhere. Our sadistic treatment and manipulation of animals for centuries has come back to haunt us. It is time for humanity to absorb the lessons of the animal world.”6

READ: Christo’s full essay in The Hill

Combating the wildlife trade will take significant energy and commitment from governments around the world. The livelihood of many people will be impacted as certain practices are outlawed,7 and the demand for the animals will likely remain, creating conditions for a thriving black market. Some of the ongoing animal trade was already illegal, but it persisted nonetheless.8

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you think that wildlife markets should be banned? Why or why not?
  2. Given that most of this trade happens in other countries, how high a priority should this issue be for the United States?
  3. If other countries ask for financial and law enforcement assistance to regulate their wildlife markets, should the United States help? Why or why not?
  4. The conservationists and animal rights activists who oppose this trade also frequently argue against factory farming and criticize the U.S. beef and poultry markets. Do you think we should outlaw or significantly change farming practices? Why or why not?

 

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
[1] CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/05/asia/china-coronavirus-wildlife-consumption-ban-intl-hnk/index.html
[2] The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-we-still-havent-learned-the-lessons-from-sars-130484
[3] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/science/coronavirus-pangolin-wildlife-ban-china.html
[4] The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/18/billion-dollar-wildlife-industry-in-vietnam-under-assault-as-law-drafted-to-halt-trading
[5] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/19/health/coronavirus-animals-markets.html
[6] The Hill: https://thehill.com/changing-america/opinion/488295-coronavirus-should-be-a-wake-up-call-to-our-treatment-of-the-animal?fbclid=IwAR2F71sKV06KnEFyCShJDwinzGlx1ru67NmPvyYXm_nK-ksI0qXDnMJvdXk
[7] South China Morning Post: https://multimedia.scmp.com/infographics/news/china/article/3064927/wildlife-ban/index.html
[8] The Conversation: http://theconversation.com/coronavirus-has-finally-made-us-recognise-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-is-a-public-health-issue-133673

 

 

Gender, Identity, and Official IDs

Posted on by Scot Wilson

Gender RightsIn February, Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) introduced the Gender Inclusive Passport Act (H.R. 5962) in the House of Representatives. The legislation currently has 25 cosponsors, all of them Democrats.1 If the bill becomes law, it would create a third gender designation on U.S. passports—unspecified (X)—to join the existing designations of male (M) and female (F).2

Currently, 15 states and the District of Columbia offer non-binary gender designations on identification cards, such as driver’s licenses.3 Some airlines are also moving to add alternative gender designations to their booking processes.4 At least ten other countries have non-binary gender options on their passports.5

“Respecting every American’s gender must extend to travel abroad,” said Khanna. “The freedom to move and express yourself no matter what should be guaranteed in this country. … Everyone in this country should have the freedom to express their preferred gender on passports.”6

Dana Zzyym, for example, has been unable to get a passport because they chose not to select either male (M) or female (F) when applying for a passport. Lambda Legal, arguing on behalf of Zzyym, stated, “Dana Zzyym just wants an accurate passport, an essential identity document that accurately reflects who they are. Yet, the State Department seems to be urging Dana to lie in order to exercise their right to travel.”7 One of Zzyym’s attorneys said, “Incredibly, the U.S. State Department is in effect requiring that Dana lie on the application form in order for them to get a passport. … Dana has been forced to challenge the State Department in court and, over the past several years, had to forgo multiple opportunities to present at international conferences because they cannot lawfully exit the country.”8

Opposition to Khanna’s bill largely hinges on the cost of implementation and security concerns. “In order to ensure that even a single passport issued to Plaintiff with an ‘X’ sex designation functions properly like a passport with an ‘M’ or ‘F’ designation, a host of modifications would be required to the entire system for issuing passports and recording their information,” the State Department noted in a legal brief. “The Department estimates these modifications would take approximately 24 months and cost roughly $11 million.”9

While the number of cosponsors for increased passport gender options continues to grow, it is unclear whether or not it will garner enough support to become law.

Students and teachers can learn more about the Gender Inclusive Passport Act and contact their members of Congress to weigh in by clicking here.

Discussion Questions

  1. What role do official IDs play in your life?
  2. Do you think your state should adopt gender non-binary designations on its official IDs? If your state already has these designations, how have they changed things?
  3. If you were a member of Congress, how high a priority would this issue be for you?
  4. If you were voting on this bill, how would you vote? Why?

 

Sources

Featured Image Credit: https://www.thedailybeast.com/california-state-capitol-flies-lgbt-pride-flag-for-first-time-eve
[1] Library of Congress: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5962/cosponsors?r=4&s=1&searchResultViewType=expanded&KWICView=false
[2] Library of Congress: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5962/text?r=4&s=1
[3] Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/02/24/passports-gender-netural-x-marker/
[4] Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2019/03/22/united-becomes-first-us-airline-offer-non-binary-gender-booking-options-including-mx/
[5] Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/02/24/passports-gender-netural-x-marker/
[6] Vox: https://www.vox.com/2020/2/25/21152857/nonbinary-gender-neutral-passport
[7] Lambda Legal: https://www.lambdalegal.org/news/co_20200122_lambda-legal-tenth-circuit-rule-intersex-veteran-passport
[8] Vox: https://www.vox.com/2020/2/25/21152857/nonbinary-gender-neutral-passport
[9] GovTrack: https://govtrackinsider.com/gender-inclusive-passport-act-would-allow-a-third-option-labelled-x-instead-of-male-or-a7b963159a3

 

Public Health, Public Policy & Personal Responsibility: Coronavirus and the Common Good

Posted on by Scot Wilson

CoronavirusPublic health officials first encountered COVID-19, popularly called the coronavirus, in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Thus far, the virus has infected over 89,000 people, killing more than 3,000.1 In the United States, there have been more than 100 cases in 15 states; at least six people have died, all of them in Washington state.2 The Trump administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization insist that the threat of the coronavirus is still manageable, all the while taking precautions to attempt to contain the outbreak.

In the United States, Congress is debating how much money to allocate in support of public health officials, doctors, and local and state governments working to address the spreading virus.3

WATCH: This five-minute video from the Washington Post offers a good overview of the outbreak, the official responses, and symptoms

Coverage of the coronavirus has highlighted some issues with equality and equity in U.S. health care. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar suggested last week that the price for any COVID-19 vaccine would likely be set by the company or companies that produce the vaccine, meaning that a vaccine may not be affordable for everyone.4 This angered many progressives and community advocates, and raised questions about whether or not the government should subsidize vaccines.5 Members of Congress are fighting over how best to address this issue.6

Covid-19 The outbreak has also raised another important equity issue: the ability to take time off work. It is recommended that people who are feeling sick or are worried that they may have been exposed to the coronavirus stay home from work or school and avoid public spaces.7 However, doing so is not always possible for hourly employees in the service industry, such as restaurant and retail workers.8 This has called attention to issues such as paid time off9 and employment security.10

WATCH: Channel 4 News on “Coronavirus: UK Low-Paid Hospital Cleaners Fear Taking Sick Days”

While some of these public health and public policy challenges are short-term, the coronavirus is also highlighting underlying structural problems. In the light of the presidential campaign, issues involving equity, health care, and workers’ rights have taken on new urgency.

Discussion Questions

  1. What have you heard about the coronavirus from the news? Social media? Friends and family?
  2. Do you live in a community that is currently impacted by the outbreak? How are local officials responding? How has your school life changed?
  3. Do you think the government should provide a vaccine to all Americans if/when it becomes available?
  4. Should the government provide special assistance to low-income workers and others who cannot afford to take time away from their jobs?
  5. Does this outbreak shape the way you think about any other policy issues, such as trade or health care?

 

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Niaid Rml/NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH HANDOUT/EPA
[1] The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/27/what-is-covid-19
[2] CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/coronavirus-outbreak-death-toll-us-infections-latest-news-updates-2020-03-03/
[3] NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/02/810117760/lessons-from-u-s-hospitals-caring-for-covid-19-patients
[4] Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2020/03/01/addressing-the-issue-of-coronavirus-vaccine-affordability/#30442555c789
[5] Common Dreams: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/02/27/outrage-hhs-chief-azar-refuses-vow-coronavirus-vaccine-will-be-affordable-all-not
[6] The Hill: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/485800-vaccine-costs-emerge-as-roadblock-to-coronavirus-funding-deal
[7] CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/03/success/coronavirus-remote-work/index.html
[8] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/upshot/coronavirus-sick-days-service-workers.html
[9] MarketWatch: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-a-very-unfortunate-conundrum-as-coronavirus-spreads-the-cdc-urges-sick-workers-to-stay-home-but-what-if-you-dont-get-paid-sick-leave-2020-03-02
[10] Vox: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/2/27/21155901/coronavirus-in-us-spread-paid-sick-leave

 

 

 

Understanding Ideological Labels

Posted on by Scot Wilson

During campaigns and elections, candidates use political labels, such as liberal, moderate, progressive, conservative, and libertarian, to position themselves in relation to each other and as a shorthand for their worldviews and policy preferences. This presidential election cycle features candidates from across a wider political spectrum than most elections in recent years.

In the United States, we often discuss a left-right political ideologies spectrum that might look something like this:

Socialist –> Progressive –> Liberal –> Moderate –> Conservative –> Libertarian –> Autocratic

This political ideology spectrum is confusing for several reasons. First, the far right includes both small government libertarian and autocratic/authoritarian political beliefs. Second, ideological labels such as socialist and libertarian are not commonly used and understood in the United States, although that is changing. This post offers some resources to help teachers and students explore political beliefs and values.

Aldrich-McKelvey Scaling of Canidates

Our debates in the United States take place within a small slice of the available political ideologies. To help your students explore the full range of ideas, and to see how our political debates compare to those in other countries, consider exploring The Political Compass, created by Pace News and journalist Wayne Brittenden.1

Additional Resources

Discussion Questions

  1. Do these political labels help you make sense of debates between the candidates? Why or why not?
  2. Which political label do you think best describes you? Why?
  3. When you think about candidates, how important is winning? Is it more important than political values?
  4. What political goals are most important to you? What political values?

 

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2016-election-map.svg
[1] Quartz.com: https://qz.com/1748903/how-2020-us-democratic-candidates-compare-to-global-politicians/

 

 

 

Using the Harkness Method to Teach the News

Posted on by Scot Wilson

Harkness Model versus Traditional Model DiagramA Brief Introduction to The Harkness Method1

The Harkness method is a type of student discussion created at the Phillips Exeter Academy in 1930. At the time, most methods of education involved teacher-led lectures and rote memorization. But a wealthy philanthropist, Edward Harkness, promised a financial contribution of over $5 million (or almost $90 million in 2019 dollars2) to the school—if it adopted a revolutionary method of student-directed teaching in a “conference-like” atmosphere.3

“What I have in mind is [a classroom] where [students] could sit around a table with a teacher who would talk with them, and instruct them by a sort of tutorial or conference method, where [each student] would feel encouraged to speak up,” Harkness said of the school he envisioned. “This would be a real revolution in methods.” To bring this idea to life, the school used a portion of the money to change the classroom environment to suit student-centered instruction. Desks in rows became round tables, and class sizes of 25 to 35 were reduced to 12. Eventually, the now-signature Harkness table became oval, allowing the instructor to see and make eye contact with every student. The idea is that all people at the table are equal and, in the words of Harkness, “there are no corners to hide behind.”4

Exeter still uses the Harkness method in teaching today, in every subject. “What happens at the table is, as Harkness described it, ‘real revolution,’” the school notes. “It’s where you explore ideas as a group, developing the courage to speak, the compassion to listen, and the empathy to understand. It’s not about being right or wrong. It’s a collaborative approach to problem-solving and learning.”5 Exeter also offers an institute each year, bringing together more than 400 teachers to learn about implementing the method in their classrooms.6

Overview of the Harkness Method

In a traditional Harkness method discussion, 12 students sit at an oval table with a teacher acting as the facilitator. The primary goal of the method is to place students in the driver’s seat of their learning and to make learning a more participatory process. To achieve this, students come to the table having read a piece of material as background (e.g. a primary source, a news article on a current event, or a piece of literature). They actively participate in a discussion about the content while the facilitator monitors.

On the surface, this may seem like the Socratic method, but there is a significant difference. In the Harkness method, the teacher must give up the need to “guide” students to the “right” solution and instead be an active participant in the discussion.7 A sign of a high-quality Harkness discussion would be one that requires little to no direction by the teacher; instead, the learning occurs student-to-student. During the discussion, the teacher uses various discussion tracking tools to monitor students’ participation and dialogue and to ensure that participants are following norms and staying on topic. They can track everything, including who has spoken, amount of speaking time, and body language, to see the quality of conversation and monitor student gains.

Using this Method to Teach the News

While most schools have much larger class sizes than 12 and rarely have large oval tables, you can make modifications to employ this method. For example, Chicago teacher Aida Conroy was able to implement the method in a class of 33 and saw tremendous gains in college-readiness test scores that surpassed the standard “college-ready” score.8

Suggested Steps for Employing this Method in a Modern Classroom  

  • Before actually using the method, you will need to introduce students to the Harkness method and give (or have students create) expectations/table norms.
    1. Some examples of table norms include looking at the person speaking, staying engaged, and asking clarifying questions.
    2. You should give students examples of what active participation looks like in a Harkness discussion (e.g. ask a question, present evidence from the text). These norms and participation guidelines could be a form you distribute or a poster in the room. Find more examples here.
  • Assign students an article (or two) on a current event or a historically controversial issue that you would like students to explore. Assigning the article(s) as homework would give students time to digest and come prepared with notes, talking points, questions, and ideas.
  • Place chairs or desks in an oval shape (as an oval table is likely unavailable), ensuring eye contact between all students. Invite students to join you in this Harkness discussion and remind them of the expectations and goals of the conversation.
  • Using a version of the Harkness table discussion tracking system, have students begin discussion of the background information they read. The first several times you do this, students will likely need more hands-on facilitation and reminders about expectations at the table. Again, these expectations can be unique to the specific class or those you introduced earlier.
  • Once the class is accustomed to this model, it could be possible to teach students to act as facilitators (and to use some basic table tracking tools). This allows smaller groups to discuss while the teacher floats to monitor, clarify, and observe student learning.
  • To more closely approximate the small class size of the Harkness method, consider placing students in pairs and designating each member of the pair as an A or B. Then, have a first-round discussion with all As participating while the Bs track their partners’ participation. After 15 to 20 minutes, switch roles.

 Resources and More Information

  • Download Exeter’s free Harkness Toolkit pieces here
  • Read essays by educators who have used the Harkness model here
  • The Concise EHI Experience Guide to Harkness, created by a teacher who attended the Exeter Institute, can be found here
Sources
Featured Image Credit: Upland Country Day School
[1] Phillips Exeter Academy: https://www.exeter.edu/exeter-difference/how-youll-learn
[2] CPI Inflation Calculator: http://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1930?amount=5840000
[3] Boarding School Review: https://www.boardingschoolreview.com/blog/to-harkness-or-not-to-harkness
[4] Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/phillips-exeter-harkness-table-2014-11
[5] Phillips Exeter Academy: https://www.exeter.edu/exeter-difference/how-youll-learn
[6] Phillips Exeter Academy: https://www.exeter.edu/programs-educators
[7] University of Bedfordshire: https://www.beds.ac.uk/jpd/volume-4-issue-3/harkness-learning-principles-of-a-radical-american-pedagogy/
[8] Boarding School Review: https://www.boardingschoolreview.com/blog/to-harkness-or-not-to-harkness

 

Migrant Detention and Congressional Oversight

Posted on by Scot Wilson

Immigration policy and enforcement continues to be a major area of conflict between congressional Democrats and the executive branch. Currently, Congress is considering many bills related to immigration, asylum, migrant detention, and family separation. This week, we will look at two bills that Democrats are advancing; next week, we will look at two bills that Republicans are advancing.

The HOMESTEAD Act of 2019 (H.R. 3868)

The full name of the HOMESTEAD Act is the Help Oversee, Manage, and Evaluate Safe Treatment and Ensure Access without Delay Act of 2019. The name comes from the Homestead shelter for migrant children.

The bill would make it easier for any member of Congress to visit a government-operated detention center that houses undocumented immigrants.1 It would also allow members of Congress to inspect the facilities without advance notice. (Currently, members of Congress must give 48 hours advance notice for an inspection, and the departments that oversee the detention centers are not required to allow entry to members of Congress. In April, three congresswomen from Florida attempted to visit one of the child detention centers in Homestead, Florida. The Department of Health and Human Services, the department that oversees the facility, denied them entrance.)2

Immigrant and migrant families along U.S.-Mexico border

Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act of 2019 (S. 2113 in the Senate; H.R. 3918 in the House of Representatives)

In addition to expressing concerns about oversight, some members of Congress have criticized the Trump administration for its detention policies.3 Researchers argue that the detention of children will have long-term mental and emotional effects.4 In fact, the administration’s own Department of Homeland Security issued a report that was deeply critical of conditions at four separate detention centers.5

This bill aims to address these conditions. The bill would:

  • Require that immigration officials make every effort to keep families together
  • Provide better medical care for children in detention centers
  • Set higher standards for detention centers in areas such as cleanliness, ventilation, and temperature
  • Provide staff for both supervision and attention to children’s welfare6

SEE: An Open Letter from Senate Democrats

Immigrants’ rights activists insist that this bill would protect children. A petition circulated by the American Civil Liberties Union states, “[W]e’ve uncovered tens of thousands of pages of evidence documenting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials physically, sexually, and verbally abusing children.”7

But the Trump administration argues that by detaining families and making illegal immigration more daunting and difficult, it will deter the practices of illegal immigration. “One of the things that will happen, when they realize the borders are closing—the wall is being built, we are building tremendous numbers of miles of wall right now in different locations—it all comes together like a beautiful puzzle,” said President Trump.8

For this reason, and to avoid having to release undocumented families into the United States while their court cases are considered, the Trump administration is considering a rule change that would allow for indefinite detention of migrant families.9 Twenty states are currently suing the administration to block the rule change.10

Thus, there is presently much action taking place in the area of immigration policy, but it is unclear what changes will come in the months ahead. Next week, we will examine two Republican proposals to address concerns over immigration.

 

Discussion Questions

  • When you think of immigration, what do you see as the biggest problems facing the country?
  • Do you think illegal immigration is a serious issue? Why or why not?
  • Do you think these two bills are addressing significant issues? Why or why not?
  • If you were advising your member of Congress about these two bills, what advice would you give them? How would you like them to vote?

 

Sources
Featured Image Credit: Handout/Reuters, via the Washington Post
[1] Congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3868/text
[2] Miami Herald: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article228933679.html
[3] CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/29/trump-administration-bars-tours-of-migrant-detention-centers-democrats.html
[4] National Public Radio: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/08/23/753757475/lengthy-detention-of-migrant-children-may-create-lasting-trauma-say-researchers
[5] CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/06/politics/homeland-security-ice-facilities/index.html
[6] Congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/2113/text
[7] American Civil Liberties Union: https://action.aclu.org/petition/cbp-stop-abusing-children
[8] New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/21/us/politics/flores-migrant-family-detention.html
[9] Washington Post: https://beta.washingtonpost.com/immigration/trump-administration-moves-to-terminate-court-agreement-hold-migrant-children-and-parents-longer/2019/08/21/c268bb44-c28b-11e9-9986-1fb3e4397be4_story.html
[10] The Hill: https://thehill.com/latino/458843-20-states-sue-trump-administration-over-flores-rule