Comments on: Gonzo betrayed — a review of Cross-X by Joe Miller

By: tom

tom — Fri, 08 Dec 2024 16:46:23 +0000

More Freire could only be a good thing. Somehow for me he's always been linked with Dolci. Nothing Pollyanna about him either.

By: tamarika

tamarika — Fri, 08 Dec 2024 15:16:09 +0000

No Pollyana about it. It is really good, so important, crucial in fact, to be an idealist. Debate means conversation and dialogue and that’s what we need plenty, plenty of …

By: Joe Mller

Joe Mller — Fri, 08 Dec 2024 09:32:07 +0000

Frank, thank you so much for your thoughtful review. And to your friends for commenting. Tom, to answer your question, I’m sorry to say that the book doesn’t suggest that Freire resonates more in the US than he has in the past. But it certainly suggests that he ought to. And this might have some impact, however small, because so far teachers seem to be responding most enthusiastically to the book. I have a feeling that when it goes to paperback it will be read by quite a few more educators.

Perhaps I’m Pollyanna, but I think there’s a slim chance here that this book coupled with efforts by the national Association of Urban Debate Leagues to bring a bit of the spirit of the Freire quote you offered into education reform initiatives. The NAUDL is developing a program of “debate across the curriculum” which would do exactly what Freire suggests — in a way that’s really fun!

By: Frank Paynter

Frank Paynter — Thu, 07 Dec 2024 16:20:04 +0000

There is a team of Seniors who march forward through the season refining their skills in two major styles of debate… old school slow dialog, and the preferred national style of total brain dump via speed-reading the evidence. Their challenge is to integrate these approaches so they can be sure to perform well regardless of venue. Sadly, they are informed by the adversarial method. They are successful to a point, but unsatisfied. Their bow to “theory” includes using Foucault as a club to beat their less well informed opponents.

The underclassmen… a team that comes up to replace the Seniors the following season discover Freire and with the positive support of Miller and the seemingly reluctant support of Jane Rinehart they change their approach. Their success as measured by victories isn’t clear, but what they learn and how they integrate that knowledge seems much more satisfying. Hopefully Joe Miller will follow-up with some reports on whether this Kansas City Central High School approach (which seems to be reflected somewhat in some college teams’ approaches) gains greater currency and success on the circuit.

By: tom

tom — Thu, 07 Dec 2024 16:08:57 +0000

Interesting going from Protagoras to Freire, who would seem the arch-enemy of a certain brand of sophism:

Human existence cannot be silent nor can it be nourished by false words, but only by true words, with which men and women transform the world. To exist humanly is to name the world, to change it.

Does the book suggest that Freire might begin to have more resonance in USia than he’s had in the past?

By: jeneane

jeneane — Thu, 07 Dec 2024 04:41:12 +0000

I too am trying to find time to READ it. I thank you for tweaking (?) my interest enough to make me have a look. Certainly a lot of HARD work and sweat went into the book. I think my aversion to debating and sucking at it so bad as a kid has me avoiding. But it does sound interesting. I’ll have to take a Xanax.

p.s. Frank, you’re WHITE?!

By: tamarika

tamarika — Thu, 07 Dec 2024 01:11:28 +0000

Frank, this is such a thorough and comprehensive, caring review. I am still trying to get the time to read the book – although have looked through it and am overcome by the enormity of the project. It’s never too late. Amazing choice from the tube. You never cease to amaze me!