Today Joe Nathan and Deborah Meier discuss whether labeling opponents helps improve students' learning.  Joe begins, and Deborah responds.

Deb, seems to me that labeling others with whom we disagree don't help improve or increase student's learning. Labels may be convenient. They may make people using them feel better.  But having witnessed this over forty years, I don't see how they help students.

Over the last few years, I think we've seen an increase. The Internet and related websites that often allow anonymous comments seem to contribute to this kind of thing. But people who use their names, too, sometimes dismiss others via labels.

Take for example, the term "anti reform".  That's far too vague.  Which reforms, changes are we talking about.  I know of a school district that asks principals to list people who are "anti reform."  But many thoughtful people disagree with the "reforms" that are being pushed.  We need to be more specific.

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