PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Fine, Melinda
TI  - "You Can't Just Say That the Only Ones Who Can Speak Are Those Who Agree with Your Position": Political Discourse in the Classroom
AID  - 10.17763/haer.63.4.504mp416q4k30446
DP  - 1993 Dec 01
TA  - Harvard Educational Review
PG  - 412--434
VI  - 63
IP  - 4
4099  - http://harvardeducationalreview.org/content/63/4/412.short
4100  - http://harvardeducationalreview.org/content/63/4/412.full
SO  - herp1993 Dec 01; 63
AB  - In this article, Melinda Fine describes the classroom dynamics surrounding the discussion of controversial issues in a middle school classroom. Through observation and interviews, she creates a detailed portrait of the interactions among teachers and students, revealing that while discussions of emotionally charged social and political issues are often heated and difficult, they can still be constructive. Fine maintains that students are more resilient and able to handle disagreement than is often believed. She concludes by arguing that education in a democracy requires that teachers and students learn to deal constructively with political and social differences.