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From: g_harrison@vger.nsu.edu (George C. Harrison, Norfolk State University)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: POLITICAL CORRECTNESS (Was Pluralism..)
Message-ID: <931.2825886d@vger.nsu.edu>
Date: 6 May 91 20:46:37 GMT
References: <91125.170149MLWLG@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Lines: 31

In article <91125.170149MLWLG@CUNYVM.BITNET>, MLWLG@CUNYVM.BITNET writes:
> Hello.
> 
> Does anybody have any suggestion(s) on how to teach pluralism in a Computer
> Science curriculum?  What do I mean when I say pluralism?   Well, as I see
> it there are two extremes: societal and academic.  Academic is the easy,
> you just instruct the class in such a way that it fosters each student's
> own learning style (sure sounds easy). The tough one is societal.
> 
> In lab classes assignments can be given that need group attention, but when
> you're in front of the board showing them some programming construct, how
> do you relate it to their role in society and/or, their ability to resolve
> conflicts in society? How do I make the lesson multicultural?
> 

Why do the lessons need to be multicultural?  The leaning of programming, for
example, is acultural.  To place judements on such things sounds like
"political correctness."  I DO teach personal differences, etc. in software
engineering.  I believe it's up to the student to decide how he or she will
respond to society's needs.  That's not my job as a teacher.  

> Thank you,
> -Larry
> 
You are welcome.
 George
-- George C. Harrison                              -----------------------
----- Professor of Computer Science                -----------------------
----- Norfolk State University                     -----------------------
----- 2401 Corprew Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23504 -----------------------
----- INTERNET:  g_harrison@vger.nsu.edu ---------------------------------