Lesson 8

 It is incredibly challenging to relay the contents of the opening conversation from today's class...

We began with a reminder that these conversations are not about one story being more or less true in reality, but about what happens when a society is governed by a story, or particular versions - often to the exclusion of others....faiths bring people great solace - and do good work! That said, what happens when stories are co-opted - employed to the wrong ends?

 We began by talking about when children should be made aware of the world outside of the one they perceive with their own eyes...and the issues there - and the ways in which those who have choice in the matter are privileged.

Students talked about their various experiences of Canadian society - and compared it to other places in the world. We discussed how welcoming Canada is - and whether that is apparent in the particular systems which shape/govern society.

We talked about news consumption (the idea that folks are actually taking in information, and maybe coming to believe particular narratives, without thinking of them critically. 

- We then considered how social media - the ways in which it can be used to alter perception, when we aren't paying attention to the messages therein...

Dylan in Saudi: - We talked, for example, about Saudia Arabia, Sport Washing, Social Media washing, and Jamal Khashoggi's murder (carried out to silence his news stories).

We will continue work with  "The Truth about Stories" by Thomas King - tomorrow we will stick to the text - work our way through the first couple of sections at least :)

HOMEWORK: Review the first sections for tomorrow - and have something to add to conversation!