fandomhigh | Practical Philosophy, Monday

For once, Ender had sent out an invite to his students to show up to the Danger Shop, not the lawn. Entering through the doors would get them into what looked like a large airlock, with rounded walls in stark whites and greys. There was a bigger door up ahead; Ender was standing right in front of it.

"It's a little warm outside," he said, "And it's been a quiet week. So I thought I'd try something different."

He reached out and rapped his knuckles on one of the walls. "Different for you, but not different for me," he said. "My old school used this technique to prompt us to think out of the box. I'm going to give you some time to adjust before we talk this time. Call it a lesson in perspective."

Then he opened up the door and hurled himself into the room ahead, folding his legs under him. Zero gravity meant that his momentum carried him. He caught his movement on the opposing wall with extreme grace, bouncing off at a different angle, and then another one, and then another.

Eventually he hooked his feet under a set of handholds. The way he was standing, the opening from the door was right above him. He had to look up to look at his students.

"There are a lot of issues involved in what Fandom does to us," he said. "Issues of consent. Issues of privacy. Issues of bodily autonomy. It can be easy to disregard that sometimes it's useful to experience something from a different point of view - not that that makes any of those other issues irrelevant. Orient yourself. Then we can share some experiences."

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"Because I'm here to open up a discussion," Ender said. "Then I cede some of that space to you, to fill it with what you feel is relevant. Personally, I'd feel it was irresponsible of me to raise the point of a potentially positive side-effect of such a change without at least mentioning the extremely problematic parts."

"Anything that involves taking my consent, privacy, or bodily autonomy away has no positive outcome," Karina said flatly. "And I'm offended at the very idea that doing that could have a positive outcome."

Because nope. Nope. Not as far as Karina was concerned.

She took a deep breath, decided she might as well just say the rest of it, "And it bothers me that you bring up loss of control here, where most of us have less control over our movements and actions than usual. It's uncomfortable, given the topic."

"It's what we call an object lesson," Ender said mildly. "And I never ordered you to come all the way in here with me."

It was an important distinction.

"The gate is upwards, and I don't mind shouting in conversation."

Karina resisted rolling her eyes. But it was hard.

"Another option you give after," she pointed out waspishly. "It's not like you can ever be bothered to tell us anything instead of making us hop, skip and jump through verbal ropes while you constantly try to come out on top. I suppose giving straight instructions and options go against your whole idea of philosophy too?"

"I try to foster some critical thinking in my class," Ender said. "But if you desire strict instruction, then you'll have it: I give detention for only two offenses, not showing up to my class without first discussing it with me or another school official, or shaming another student for their experiences. I would prefer it if you talk, but if you don't, all you risk is a lower tick mark on your evaluation - which doesn't mean much for these summer classes - and potentially missing out on interesting discussion."

He tilted his head. "Everything else is yours to decide, whether you want to accept it or not."

Edited 2013-07-22 17:59 (UTC)

"Well thanks for telling me this in the third week of class," Karina said, keeping her voice level with effort. "Maybe tell everyone in class too? I mean, it might have skipped your mind, but you're in a position of power over us, since you're a teacher and we're not and expecting us to just magically know how you work and where you draw the line isn't 'fostering critical thinking' it's 'making unwarranted assumptions'."

And being a jerk. But despite what he said, she wasn't going to call him that directly to his face.

"We're discussing this in front of the rest of the class, and I've never given any indications otherwise," Ender said. "I've also told you from day one that you are free to ask me any questions that might be on your mind. So far, however, you've preferred to assume, only to anger when I finally divine your issue and answer it."

He tilted his body so suddenly he wasn't standing straight up against the wall anymore, he was leaning against it.

"Life doesn't often offer us the luxury of waiting for someone else to give us instruction. Your other teachers might be happy to oblige, but I'm not. Ask me questions. That is all I've said from day one."

There was a point to be taken from his movement but she was going to ignore it. He was just a jerk, that's all she needed to know.

"Funny," she said, in a voice that said it wasn't funny at all, "because you never seem to be inclined to give answers with all your open question policy."

"Ask me something," Ender replied.

"You're just doing that to try and prove a point you already lost," she complained. "I hate when people do that."

Difficult to please? Karina? Well... yes. But also correct, as far as she saw it.

Though since he offered... "What do you think makes a good teacher and, under your own definition, are you one?"

Ender disagreed rather strongly with that analysis, but saw no reason to engage her on the matter. It would only cost him battles and win no understanding.

"What kind of teacher?" he asked. "Do you mean a teacher of English? A teacher of English is a good teacher if they pass on correct knowledge of the English language while maintaining proper conduct with their students. A military teacher is a good teacher when their students leave the class fit for war. A teacher of philosophy-- now that's a good teacher if their students walk out having learned something about themselves and the nature of the world around them."

"Since the teacher is defined by the progress of his students, I think it would be the height of arrogance to say one way or the other until this particular class is concluded."

He reached out for the handhold above his head and pulled himself up, so that now his feet were facing towards the gate. He pulled them beneath him and slid them under the handholds. It gave him a better range of sight, especially to look at Karina.

Practical Philosophy, Monday

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