More than ‘Objectivity’

Objectivity: The quality or state of being objective.

Ob·jec·tive
 adj.
 
1. Of or having to do with a material object.
2. Having actual existence or reality.
3.
a. Uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices: an objective critic. See Synonyms at fair 1.
b. Based on observable phenomena; presented factually: an objective appraisal.

n.

1. Something that actually exists.
2. Something worked toward or striven for; a goal. See Synonyms at intention.


Howard Zinn (1922-2010)
"From the start, my teaching was infused with my own history. I would try to be fair to other points of view, but I wanted more than 'objectivity'; I wanted students to leave my classes not just better informed, but more prepared to relinquish the safety of silence, more prepared to speak up, to act against injustice wherever they saw it.”
Acting against injustice as informed by non-objectivity.


Objective: met.

Comments

Stephen Bourque said…
Good juxtaposition.

As an educator, Zinn was right in step with the father of "progressive" education, John Dewey, for whom, "'[t]he school is primarily a social institution,' whose central purpose is not 'science, nor literature, nor history nor geography . . but the child's own social activities.'"

So, for Zinn as falling in line with Dewey's mission . . . objective: met.



* Quote from Glenn Woiceshyn, "John Dewey's Legacy to Education: Teen Violence"
January 28, 2010 at 1:01 PM
Lynne said…
Excellent article. Thanks for the link to it.
January 28, 2010 at 1:20 PM
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