Understanding controversy by https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh What is something in your daily life that could potentially cause controversy (Team names, city names, locations) | How do you feel about this controversy | What kind of bias do you think you might bring when looking at this controversy | Post here and discuss with your classmates to explore different controversy en-us 2019-09-13 02:15:14 UTC 2023-03-17 09:10:22 UTC hello@padlet.com Understanding Controversy jeff_clemens https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/383596630 This is an opportunity to discuss and explore different types of controversy and to hear from others how they feel about it. This is a safe place for discussion and use your readings to better understand and interpret what others are saying.
As a warning, some of these conversations will likely get uncomfortable but this is an opportunity to explore why and where they come from.]]> 2019-09-13 02:18:58 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/383596630 Erasing history? amdunn32 https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/387443922 2019-09-20 21:08:37 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/387443922 Being Politically Correct... joywim1215 https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/387504781 Justin Trudeau was recently criticized about using skin-darkening makeup not just once, but a few times. I came across a recent article which added a different perspective to this story. An attendee of one of the events, where Trudeau wore a costume and “brownface” makeup, does not remember anyone taking offense to this, as well as, feels that the recent uproar over this situation is “unfair” because this happened during a time when this would not have been addressed as being politically incorrect or racist. To me and a few people I spoke with, feel that Trudeau didn’t mean to be hurtful or disrespectful, he dressed up as a character, Aladdin, which in cartoons has darker skin. Is society blowing things out of proportion? Or are they correct to criticize?


]]> 2019-09-21 05:35:31 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/387504781 Why do sports get away with racism? jeff_clemens https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/387638174 My audio recording is discussing how sports teams seem to get a pass when dealing with racism in their names.]]> 2019-09-21 20:29:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/387638174 Tanya - International Students https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/389176449 A very controversial topic in most colleges in Ontario is the addition of more and more international students.  Students are being accepted to make up for shrinking domestic student numbers and are contributing a large portion to the bottom line.  There is a growing argument that they are destroying the Canadian education system and are detrimental to the learning of the domestic students.  International students bring cultural differences and language barriers.  Colleagues in my college make the argument that they should not be accepted and that they are not worth the trouble.  There is an extremely large plagiarism issue as well as an attendance problem.  Many colleagues suggest these students are not here to learn, but are only here to gain a visa.
I am on the opposite side of this argument. I feel like many international students are here to gain experience and bring a new cultural awareness to my domestic students. While I experience the same plagiarism and attendance issues as my colleagues, I believe that it is limited to a few, not the majority. I have also experienced similar issues with my domestic students. I am however biased, in that I have done an extensive amount of international travel and have enjoyed experiencing other cultures. I have also worked in a country that I did not speak the language and am aware of how hard it is to participate in conversation when you are struggling to understand. The argument made by my colleagues is that international students have no place on campus.]]> 2019-09-25 00:13:07 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/389176449 Who can express opinion about racism or cultural appropriation or other related controversial topics? beata_e_kozma https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/389186176 I am building a little bit on the topic Joyce brought to the Padlet board.

I am a Caucasian person. Blue eyes, fair skin, light hair. I had my fair share of hurdles in my home country (I grew up in a communist state); but my skin colour was never part of my disadvantage. My path forward has been relatively clear of obstacles. As Bill Gates described this situation: I started out ahead. 

I do have thoughts about racism, controversial topics, indigenous issues or else.
I often hear from Caucasian people in North America, that they feel that they need to hold back even their legitimate and educated thoughts related to racism … cultural appropriation … as it often comes down to “a white person cannot understand it, never experienced it, thus should not express an opinion.” 

What do you think about it?
]]> 2019-09-25 00:52:12 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/389186176 Profiling - Loss Prevention phyzphyz https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/389256510 One controversial topic that has been a center of discussion within the retail sector is that of "customer profiling"  as a tactic/tool used to help  reduce shoplifting.  Some of my colleagues are of the opinion that this is a very essential tool in helping to identify possible shoplifters, while others feel that   the indicators used to profile possible shoplifters are discriminatory. I'm not sure how I feel about this as there is a need to prevent or reduce loss within any business, but then I don't think we have the right to profile persons because the actions of their character may not be within the norms of "society". Perhaps, I  have a bias,  because of my recent experience of being profiled while browsing in another branch of the company I work for. I was approached and treated with extra special customer service (as we train our associates to do  when suspecting a possible shoplifter).  
What gives us the right to profile others?
What do you think?
What are your thoughts?]]> 2019-09-25 06:26:12 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/389256510 Taboo Tattoos? alastair_linds https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/389363066 Good morning everyone! Here's a video I posted around an increasing popular societal trend, tattoos. How do you react when you see a tattoo that may offend your sensibilities?]]> 2019-09-25 11:33:31 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/389363066 Eliminating Letter Grades from School Report Cards dorothysidhu https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/389611169 Not only as a student who has personally completed her K-12 and post-secondary within the BC School System (way back in the day), but as a parent who has 3 children dispersed amongst grades K-12 in the public school system - SD 36 ... I've been having lots of conversations with many friends, parents, colleagues and kids on the movement of 'eliminating letter grades'.  

With varied degrees of separation in our perspectives, experiences and biases it's an interesting and contentious topic I find.  

Based on the reading from (Clarke, 2007) it suggests that typically every controversial topic turns around three types of questions.
  1. Questions relating to values: What should be? What is best?
  2. Questions relating to information: What is the truth? What is the case?
  3. Questions relating to concepts: What does this mean? How should this be defined?

I wholeheartedly agree with something fairly new,  unconventional, nontraditional and non-mainstream, I generally revert to values, information and concepts.

So, what are my values and beliefs around letter grads and what emphasize do I place on them for myself, as well as my kids.  If it's of huge value, I can see the disagreements rising between someone who may have an opposite perspective.  

Is there enough information that is evidenced out there to suggest and proof that this can work and the system can handle what's to come from K-12 with no letter grades?  Will universities also consider this change?  How does one then measure success in K-12?  

What about specific concepts and policies around the elimination of letter grades and what that looks like for admissions in universities?

Dorothy
]]> 2019-09-25 17:07:17 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/389611169 Equality (Again) dsbeare https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/389841336 As I began to write my controversial context down, I had a small cringe as my societal norms tell me that there will be thoughts out there of “not this topic again”. In a reasonably progressive environment, I lead and work with many males who work in supportive ways and engage willingly with female staff. What is challenging is comments that are inappropriate that they are not aware that can be offensive to females. I personally don’t have a problem speaking professionally about the situation but there are many who are intimidated or feel that discussion will not fix anything. Clark (n.d) states that “A good education is focused on developing an awareness of the planetary condition, and prepares students to act as effective, responsible citizens in a complex world” (para. 8). I believe this education of awareness could apply to middle aged men too.

Assume your approach is not to “go to the top”, how do you deal with these situations without causing a conflict? 

Clarke, P. (n.d.). Teaching Controversial Issues in the Classroom: A four-step strategy for clear thinking on controversial issues. Retrieved from https://www.teachers.ab.ca/News%20Room/ata%20magazine/Volume%2087/Number%204/Articles/Pages/Teaching%20Controversial%20Issues%20in%20the%20Classroom.aspx

]]> 2019-09-26 04:05:42 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/389841336 Too Many University Administrators...? melem_k_sharpe https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/390205466 My audio clip touches the controversy around the increasing number of PhD administrators in American universities. One side of the argument claims that with increasing student enrollment/growth we need more administrators. Another side to this argument is the increasing layers of bureaucracy that have resulted, not to mention the costs placed on students to support these salaries. What do you think?]]> 2019-09-26 17:48:03 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/390205466 Appropriate background for an Indigenous Curriculum Consultant? jessvbrown https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/390347655 A recent topic that has come up at my organization that has caused me to pause and reflect, is the hiring of an Indigenous Curriculum Consultant. As part of our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and to teaching about Indigenous values, cultures and history, we have been trying to hire an Indigenous Curriculum Consultant to help in weaving more Indigenous knowledge and history across our many programs and courses. However, this has been ongoing for close to two years now with a series of failed competitions.

The resulting question that has arose is whether it would be appropriate to hire a non-Indigenous person in the position of an Indigenous Curriculum Consultant. In the absence of a qualified Indigenous candidate are we better to hire someone of non-indigenous heritage or wait until the appropriate candidate comes along? Having participated in a project where a well-intentioned, non-indigenous individual started to create a resource about Indigenous culture and heritage which ended up feeling  inauthentic, my bias leads me to believe that this is a position that should only be filled by an Indigenous person. What do you think?

]]> 2019-09-27 00:55:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/390347655 Men working in a women's shelter? theresa_mcleod_treadwell https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/390351894 Working at a women’s shelter, there is often times when people take issue when they discover that the staff member they are interacting with is a male.  Clarke (2007) suggests to determine what assumptions are being made and the most often assumptions that have been communicated are that men either should not be permitted to work at a women’s shelter because it is for women or that they are not able to understand women’s issues and therefore are not suited to work in a women’s shelter.  When we began the hiring process for Belinda’s Place, a shelter for women who are experiencing homelessness, there were many male applicants that were interviewed and some who were hired.  These men came from various backgrounds, experience and education but all had one thing in common; a deep desire to challenge the systemic issues that contribute to poverty and homelessness.  Clarke (2007) urges to question whether the controversy is about values, information or concepts.  The value of what should be or more accurately, what should not be is clearly in the forefront in this situation.  To this day, I still field judgments camouflaged as innocent questions like, “Oh, you have men working here?  I wouldn’t have expected that.”  This issue can sometimes be very controversial and even cause some conflict however, it is also an opportunity to challenge gender bias in a way that allows people to explore what it is about men that makes them think that they cannot work in a women’s shelter.  When we start to explore why we feel this way, often times people can identify that the argument is based on stereotypes.  Some people are emphatically against the idea of men working in a women’s shelter and use ‘extreme examples’ as Clarke (2007) points out, to make their argument.  Over the years, I have found that challenging these stereotypes has lead more open minded way of thinking which also opens the door to innovative solutions.  

How do you feel about men working in a women’s shelter?

]]> 2019-09-27 01:15:11 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/390351894 Dino: Are workplace generational differences causing controversies? https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/390788509 While I was reading about the societal issues causing controversies in academic or workplace environments, I couldn't think of any affecting online learning simply because in my organization we do not offer synchronous online courses. However, thinking a bit outside of the box, I was wondering how generational workforce differences may impact colleague relationships and whether there would be any organizational performance impact as a result of generational gaps. As younger generations enter the workplace, I have noticed areas whereby X-geners don't necessary get along with millennials due to generational differences. As a result, millennials' expectations from senior managers and leaders to adapt to those expectations may find the organization in a status of cultural shock. For example, expectations for faster career progression, extensive needs for accommodations such as flexible work location and work schedules, etc, adopting advance technology without appropriate readiness or planning.

Any thoughts or examples you may can provide?]]> 2019-09-27 23:36:21 UTC https://padlet.com/jeff_clemens/py4lstpjh8xh/wish/390788509