Teaching Truth

SECTION 1

As a 7th grade teacher trying to educate my students on how to be well informed about events in the world, I would first structure a lesson based on what constitutes as fact and what constitutes as opinion. I would then describe why it is very important to distinguish those two, and help them separate fact and opinion by definition. The lesson itself would consist of presenting examples of opinion, and having them answer as to why it is not fact, and then presenting examples of fact and having them answer why this is fact and why that is the kind of reporting they must listen to. In terms of sources, I would present the same chart that we looked at previously regarding media reliability and bias, and show them where certain popular choices lie on the graph. Furthermore, I would tell them that the inner circle of the graph, where the most reliable sources lie, is where they should get their information from, regardless of whether or not it leans slightly more left or right. When discussing what I would say to kids about the influence of parents or friend groups on their perception of reality, I would stress the importance of developing an individual world view. Every single person sees the world differently, and it is vital to have your own thoughts about the world and reality, uninfluenced by the opinions of those close to you. It is ok to learn from other people and have them teach you things, but the way you see the world, the way you think, and the way your opinions are formed should be entirely your own. Therefore, I would tell them to stay educated on the facts and formulate their own opinions about the world, and to always look for the most reliable news that they can find.
 
SECTION 2

Following up with my lesson to my 7th graders, I would explain the purpose of the news and entertainment industry as mainly a for-profit machine that is hyper focused on what it earns. While there is some form of fair and just news out there, and it is important for us to find it, it is also important to realize that media corporations have ulterior interests besides just giving us the news, and that may go back to the advertisers that fund them, the earnings they get from our ratings, or any other method in which money funnels into the system. “We matter because producers of news want us to read and watch it, so they make news that we will want to read and watch. In practice, this means that the news of the people will be tailored to the groups of people most likely to consume it” (Crash Course 6:56-7:05). As a result, the news we see is whatever the consumer base of a specific news organization wants to hear. They utilize whatever they can to formulate stories, from bending the truth to report on something with sudo-accuracy, or creating a common enemy that everything can be blamed on. “A boogeyman to fear helps corral public opinion” (Al Jazeera English 4:12-4:17) However, I would also teach my students that there is a way that we must work to change the media, and that if we can work towards a more just media, then we will greatly improve our society and the way in which we consume real, factual news.  “We need a media that isn’t just free, but also good, that is able to direct a mass audience towards what truly counts, which is, as its been since the days of Plato, justice, truth, and wisdom” (The School of Life 4:08-4:22)