I can see giving priority to students who hesitate to speak, who may not feel as empowered to broadcast their opinions/thoughts. If that happens to fall along racial and gender lines, then some encouragement may be warranted in specific cases. There are certainly loud students who dominate discussions without advancing the discourse and the class as a whole may well benefit from hearing less from them. However, to blindly adhere to a pre-established hierarchy without regard to the actual students in a particular class would rarely advance the discourse. I do find troubling her quoted statement that she only calls on white men "if I have to" as that not only amounts to discrimination but robs the class of ideas that should also be heard.
Agreed!
Well said, Quantum2003.
