Day 1 - Welcome to Sociology!

As the first day began, I said, "Let's get started."
Then, we sat in silence.  Sitting in silence was awkward and unusual for most of us. Some students felt the need to fill the silence with a comment or a joke.  Clearly, this is not the way most of us are used to beginning a class, especially the first one of the semester.

What’s happening here? What are all of the thoughts that came to mind as you sat in silence?  Why did you think these things?


Silence and thinking sociologically
I like beginning the semester like this for two reasons.  First, I use this to show that most students already think sociologically, albeit in a simplified manner.  Sociologists analyze groups of people and how the people are shaped by the groups of which they are a part.  You have been a part of dozens of classes over the years.  You have seen firsthand how these classes begin every semester.  Nearly every class you have been in has started with the teacher standing in front of you and saying this is what you should or shouldn't do, etc... From participating in all of these first classes, you have begun to expect certain things from them. That is, loosely, what sociologists do; analyze people in groups and look for patterns of behavior and then analyze how those patterns affect people.


Silence and education as a social institution
Secondly, the silence is also a critique of modern education.  Education is a social institution.  Sociologists study institutions and how they affect people.  Education as an institution has trained students to be passive and sit back and wait for a teacher.  Students want to know only what is necessary for a "good" grade.  It is not about learning; instead, it is about schooling.

This critique of education came to me from Bernard McGrane's Book The Un-TV and the 10MPH Car.  McGrane makes the case that students have been trained to follow and become good at school - but not good at learning. Their curiosity and excitement for learning has been squashed by a system that rewards docility and conformity. Rather than taking initiative for their own learning, students expect the teacher to provide them with exactly what they need - "Just tell me what to do," is the attitude.  Institutions perpetuate the norms.  The way we have done something often gets passed down from generation to generation.  This creates expectations that we do not even question.  In a sense we silently comply with what we have unconsciously learned.

Our class will ask students to engage in the learning; to take part in the process and become conscious of it.  Our class will also ask students to share their own experiences and relate them to sociology.  We all learn from each other. We are all both teacher and student.  Be open to understanding things you thought you knew from a new perspective.  Be open to understanding your classmates insights.  Keep a beginner's mind, an empty cup.

Listen for the silence.

What is sociology? How does the silence experience exemplify what sociological thinking is?

What am I trying to reveal about the institution of education by doing the silence experiment?

Other impacts of silence.

A third reason why I like beginning the year with the silence is because it is uncomfortable.  Sociology will make you aware of issues in society that are uncomfortable.  Sociology will sometimes talk about topics like suicide, racism, sexism, hatred, rape and violence.  Ignoring these issues does not make them go away.  In fact, our silence in their presence allows them to quietly be accepted in society.

Checkout teacher Clint Smith speaking at a TED Talk about silence.  It is often our own silences that speak louder than our words.  This is especially true in a culture that teaches you to be a follower; to sit down and shut up and conform.  Watch that video.  
Think about the speaker's message.  I want you to find your voice.  To learn who you are as a person and to learn to speak up for what you believe in in an educated and meaningful way.  Silence can reinforce oppression.  Silence can maintain institutional order. If you are going to study sociology, you must be open to learning about these uncomfortable topics.  Moving out of our comfort zones can make us stronger and more confident people.  Ultimately, this will result in our growth as scholars and human beings.  The end result of sociology can be to make us more compassionate people who live a more meaningful existence.

Besides being open, there are a few other non-negotiable details for class.  You can download the course syllabus here.  Note these important aspects of the syllabus:

• Be open, present and prepared.  
• There is a mandatory final research paper regardless of whether you have an A- or not.
• You will be expected to be an active learner - not a passive learner or simply a test taker;  this will require participation, discussion and classwork.
• Grading will be based on three goals or standards: Participation, Application and Research.

If you can agree to this, I will ask you "Are you fired up?" And, you should answer, "Ready to go."

I will do this each day to check in with you.

1.  Bookmark my blogpage or add it to your homescreen:
https://sociologysal.blogspot.com/

2.  Be sure your iPad is up to date.  See the helpdesk in the link if it is glitchy.

3.  If you have text ability, join the Remind account for your class:

• Per 4:  text @g9k4eb to the number 81010
• Per 6:  text @76g63 to the number 81010
• Per 7:  text @2h9226 to the number 81010

A Little boy and an Old Man.

Finally, let me tell you a story about a little boy and an old man.  That story, adapted from a Nepalese tale is here.

HW: 

1.  Please read through the syllabus and let me know if you have any questions.

2. Create a Google document.  Save it as:
Last Name,  First Name Period  
For example, if I was in period 4 it would look like this:
Salituro Chris 4

3.  Share it with me.  

Then - answer the questions in this Student Survey.

4.  Please interview some family members: How and why you have the name that you have.  How did you get your legal name?  If you prefer being called a nickname, then ask about that as well.  How did you get that nickname?

About me.