Here is an excerpt from one of my favorite 3rd
grade philosophy classes. The theme was – Who has a right to life? The
discussions started with cockroaches, then went on to mosquitos. I offer this
selection of the transcript without commentary.
STUDENT: It´s that the mosquitos also have a right to
life because they don’t only bite to eat but also to defend themselves and
they, they also have feelings, feelings, while if the mosquitos don’t have
feelings, better that they kill them.
TEACHER: What would happen if the mosquitos disappeared? What could happen?
STAR
STUDENT*: Andy
STUDENT:
I don’t want to talk about the mosquitos. Can I talk about the ___?
TEACHER: Okay, but I would like for someone to think,
what could happen when an animal becomes extinct? What are the consequences?
And you have to think about this also. Okay, tell me about the mosquitos and
then I’m going to go on with another. Don’t deviate from the question. Okay? Let’s see.
-----
STAR STUDENT*: Sofi, and then ___.
----
STUDENT: It’s that also, what would happen if the
mosquitos become extinct, I _____, so if the mosquitos become extinct maybe it
would make something different in the environment.
TEACHER: Maybe something different would happen in the
envirnmont. Hm. Turns.
STUDENT: That if the mosquitos go extinct, there are
millions of kinds of mosquitos, so some could help nature. If, if we make them
extinct, well then we are going to contaminate because they could do something
to nature, like what Santi said with the cockroaches. It’s the same here. Because we don’t, we
don’t know all the kinds of mosquitos.
TEACHER:
Mmhm. Last two turns and I’m going to change animals.
STAR STUDENT*: Okay, umm Sayu and then Ananda.
STUDENT: I agree with what Sofia said that it would
change the environment, and also I realized that if we went extinct, the
mosquitos also eat the blood, the blood.
TEACHER: They would miss us. Okay, a response if there is
a response, and if no response, last turn. I think it’s already been given,
right?
STUDENT: Yes, a long time ago.
TEACHER:
Ananda. Very good, Sayuli. Is there a response? Alondra? Let’s see.
STUDENT: I don’t think that they would all go extinct
because they also suck the blood of other animals. TEACHER: Okay, they can also
bite an animal. Good, but this made Sayuli think and it’s a realization of
something interesting. Let’s
see, Ananda?
STUDENT: Umm, I agree with Hugo because also there’s this
that mosquitos also make people sick.
TEACHER:
Mmm
STUDENT:
Like chikungunya
TEACHER:
Like chikungunya, that is this type of illness, right? What do you think about?
STUDENT:
There’s a response.
TEACHER: Okay, goa head.
STUENT: But it’s that I say about this
TEACHER: The responses are super short.
STUDENT:
Clarification
TEACHER:
Question or clarification. Very good.
STUDENT: That this, it wouldn’t change the environment if
they go extinct because a lot of animals have gone extinct and nothing happened
to the world.
TEACHER: You think that nothing will?
STUDENT:
Nothing more than that there will be no mosquitos.
TEACHER:
Oooh. Who agrees with this? Excuse me. What Gonzalo just said is interesting. He considers
that a lot of animals have already gone extinct and nothing happens. Who does or does not agree with
this? Let’s see. Who doesn’t? And who does?
STUDENT: I do.
STUDENT: I do.
STUDENT: I do.
STUDENT: I do.
STUDENT: I don’t.
TEACHER: Who says no. Let’s see. Why not?
STUDENT:
Me
TEACHER: First Santiago, and then _____. Let’s see.
STUDENT: Realize this, if some animals go extinct nothing
would happen, but there are animals that, you realize, that we eat, like that
goat that gives us chops, um the cow, and other animals.
TEACHER:
But we are talking
STUDENT:
We are talking about the mosquito.
STUDENT: But the mosquitos, realize this, yes nothing
would happen.Mmhm.
TEACHER: I have a response. No, are you saying that
nothing would happen to you as people or to the environment? The environment in general.
STUDENT:
To the environment.
TEACHER:
To the environment. Why? Why if they become extinct, for example there
are a bunch of animals that are in danger of extinction. If the quetzal went
extinct, absolutely nothing would happen in nature?
STUDENTS: (Yes, yes, it’s that…)
TEACHER: Attention and silence, please. I would like for
you to sit correctly to listen. Let’s
see, Tania? What do you think?
STUDENT:
That the mosquitos and the blood, they use it. It’s that there are some animals
that don’t…
TEACHER: Okay, what do you think of what they thought?
What happens if an animal goes extinct? Nothing happens in the environment, or
does something happen?
STUDENT: Yes something happens.
TEACHER: What could happen?
STUDENT: Well, it could happen that _________________
TEACHER: The one being the food of the other one, both of
us affect each other
STUDENT: Mayte
TEACHER: Now we’re going to have order again. I would
like Alina to choose.
STUDENT:
A question
TEACHER:
In a bit. Alina is going to, go ahead Alina.
STAR
STUDENT*: Umm, Sofi
STUDENT:
I’m not – can I say something about something I don’t agree with?
TEACHER: Yes, but I want – Lucas, sit correctly please. Thank you. Gonzalo. With whom do you
disagree?
STUDENT:
Well, because
TEACHER:
With whom? With which of your classmates?
STUDENT:
With Gonzalo.
TEACHER:
Ah, good. Direct yourself toward Gonzalo.
STUDENT: Because also, some, well it could be that with
some nothing happens, but if one goes extinct that helped the planet, there
could be more contamination, that’s it.
TEACHER: There could be more contamination, and what?
STUDENT: That’s it. Because, well, not all of them would
change.
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