Re: Another classroom exercise

["Craven, Jim" <JCraven@xxxxxxxxx>]

Certainly, I believe every word you say. His reaction to my
misunderstanding however spoke volumes too.

Joanna

Yes, it is a kind of Blackfoot thing. When attacked, and it is clear
that the attack comes from someone not having properly read and
understood that which they were attacking, then the response is as
direct and pointed as the attack and is inversely proportionate in
degree of directness to the degrees of careful thought, argument and
critical thinking evidenced in the attack.

Now one more for effect:

As Michael noted, all of my classes are full and with waiting lists. I
do overload to help students about to graduate and who desperately need
my course to graduate. I give out my syllabus and ask that the students
sign (the next day) an agreement that they have fully read and agree to
comply with the terms on the syllabus. The syllabus is, of course, in
English. But the agreement is in Blackfoot language. I tell them (a
little deception is necessary in all experimentation; e.g. placebos in
double-blind studies on drugs) that those who do not sign the agreement
will be dropped with those who will sign on the waiting list taking
their places. Some raise hell about being asked to sign some agreement
in a language--they don't even know what the language is--they do not
and cannot understand. I ask what languages the U.S. and Canadian
"Treaties" were/are written in? I ask them if they can honestly say that
every agreement they have signed they fully read and understood. This
prompts a full discussion on elements of a treaty/contract, informed
consent, the legitimacy of past and present treaties, unconscionability
etc etc.

Jim C.