> I never asked students a question without first expressing my view, and I
> never accepted questions from students without them first giving their view
> on the matter.
Interesting. In my short teaching career I did something similar but not quite the same. I wouldn't give my 'answer' first -- such as it was -- but I would promise to give it after I'd heard a few others. I always did give it, too, though the responses I got before I gave my own always ended up shaping mine, and always for the better.
I was always so glad, when a student asked a question, that I didn't put the student on the spot. Always tried to turn it into a dialogue, though, partly because I was really interested in how these kids, with histories so different from my own, were taking in the material I was supposed to be 'teaching'. It started to seem like a kind of flirtation; had to give something to get something, then had to insist on getting something before one gave something else. Hardest work I've ever done. But very intense. I'd still be doing it if I hadn't had to give grades, and patrol for plagiarism. That just seemed too cop-like.
-- --
Michael J. Smith mjs at smithbowen.net
http://stopmebeforeivoteagain.org http://www.cars-suck.org http://fakesprogress.blogspot.com
"I think the American people want a solemn ass as a President, and I think I will go along with them."
-- Barack Obama
(Okay, okay, it was really Calvin Coolidge.)