1. The authors define (and italicize) the terms microaggressions and trigger warnings and offer a set of examples they think “border on the surreal.” They draw a distinction between what they term “political correctness” of the 1980s and 1990s and what they think is happening today. What, on their view, is that difference and why does it matter for education? What do you make of their ideas in the first section of the article? Be sure to quote from the text in your response.

According to the authors, today’s situation is less about political correctness and more about censoring speech to an extreme extent. The article claims that, “It is creating a culture in which everyone must think twice before speaking up, lest they face charges of insensitivity, aggression, or worse”. They mean that instead of people being conscious of harmful words or phrases they might use, they must be conscious of almost anything that comes out of their mouth. This matters to education because it seems, to some, that they must change the ways of teaching in order to appease the minds of the students. Some educators believe that they cannot teach the fullest extent of their classes for fear of harming or insulting their students. The authors believe that people are too nit-picky now and we must revert back to the original American ideals of nothing standing in the way of education.

2. Consider the second section of the article, “How Did We Get Here?” The authors offer a kind of historical/social diagnosis for what they see on campuses. Attempt a brief (2-3 sentence) summary of the section and draw a text-to-self connection to a specific passage (quote). You might agree or disagree with them in your connection – or both, if it seems appropriate.

The authors believe we got here by 3 main reasons. A surge of parental protectiveness, a divide among the american population (most clearly seen in the democrats versus the republicans) and the ability for social media to give young people a platform to state and relay their beliefs. One thing I can see is the democrats versus republican divide. I have been involved in politics for 5 years now, working on multiple campaigns, poll standing, phone banking, the whole 9 yards. The authors are correct in saying, “As each side increasingly demonizes the other, compromise becomes more difficult”. A couple years ago, I was working with my local democratic town committee (DTC) on a debate for the state senate candidates. My DTC came up with a question inquiring about what the candidate would do in regards to climate change within our community. The republican town committee that we were working with refused to allow us to ask that question claiming it was simply another part of our liberal agenda and that there is no reason to inquire about a falsehood (meaning they refused to admit that climate change is real and affecting our town). In this case, I see the republicans insisting on censorship of language instead of the implied democratic/liberal youth in the article.

3. How might Dweck’s ideas about a “fixed mindset” (or a “growth mindset” if you prefer) relate to ideas in the first three sections of “The Coddling…”? In your response, be sure to quote from both texts and EXPLAIN the relationship you see.

Dweck’s idea of the fixed mindset fits in with the ideas of “The Coddling…” quite well. Dweck explains that a fixed mindset is anything but eager to overcome difficulties and “The Coddling…” claims that with trigger warnings as commonplace now, the youth are neglecting their abilities to grow and overcome what ails their minds. Dweck claimed that “Instead of luxuriating in the power of yet, they were gripped in the tyranny of now”. In regards to what was discussed in “The Coddling…” it can be seen that any one with a fixed mindset cannot effectively practice cognitive behavioral therapy. In the article it states, “cognitive behavioral therapy teaches good critical-thinking skills, the sort that educators have striven for so long to impart. By almost any definition, critical thinking requires grounding one’s beliefs in evidence rather than in emotion or desire, and learning how to search for and evaluate evidence that might contradict one’s initial hypothesis”. This is essentially saying that one needs to overcome the self pity plaguing them and just learn. Both Dweck and “The Coddling…” seem to be pushing for growth mindsets.