News/Commentary

Is J.K. Rowling really a bigot? Teacher guides student on how to think for himself with impressive results

February 5, 2024 | | Print Article

A teacher has gone viral on X for doing what teachers are supposed to do: Teach young people how to think, not what to think.

Using the Socratic method of questioning everything, the teacher expertly guides his student through a discussion on “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling and her “transphobic” reputation.

That the conversation is considered viral-worthy material is a damning indictment of our current educational system. The unidentified teacher has earned “O Captain, my Captain!” status on social media for simply reminding people of what school should be.

The video begins with an off-camera student noting that Rowling has “had a pretty controversial past.”

“I just want to know, what are your thoughts on it, and do you still like her work, despite her bigoted opinions?” the student asks.

And that’s when the teacher begins to work his magic.

“Let’s get specific, though,” the teacher replies. “Let’s define ‘bigoted opinions.’ What opinions are bigoted?”

“She has had a history of being extremely transphobic, I’ve heard,” the student says.

“You heard?” the teacher asks. “Can you give me an example?”

The teacher patiently waits for the student to find an example of a statement from Rowling that offended him.

The student pulls up a post from 2019 on what was then Twitter in which Rowling writes, “Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real?”

Asked if he believed the remark was transphobic, the student replies, “I don’t really have an opinion on it, but, I’m just going with what a lot of other people have said –”

“So, let’s pause it,” the teacher interjects. “Let’s not go with what other people are saying. Let’s try and learn how to critically think. Let’s analyze the tweet ourselves.”

After “disregarding other people’s opinions” and some careful consideration, the student admits he doesn’t see anything that he believes is transphobic.

“Stating that sex is real is not transphobic,” he says. “It’s just a fact of life. It exists.”

The two also explore “an apology tweet” Rowling posted in 2020.

“I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them,” Rowling wrote. “I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.”

Again, the student struggled with finding anything bigoted in the tweet.

In the end, the student reconsiders the wording of his initial question.

“I feel like an idiot now,” the student admits.

“That’s okay,” the supportive teacher replies. “This is why we do this — to learn. To learn how to think.”

“Give this teacher a raise,” stated evolutionary psychologist Gad Saad.


The high praise was echoed across X.

“A rare professor who isn’t a brainwashed leftist soldier,” said actor Nick Searcy. “If we had more people like this man in academia, fewer of our kids would have had their brains ruined by college.”

“Critical thinking should be the first thing taught to kids,” stated Elon Musk.

“The world is crying out for more teachers like this,” said commentator Lee Harris. “Gives me hope.”

“Herd mentality is everywhere. People jump on the bandwagon because their family & friends are on it, or they feel it’s so popular so it must be true,” one X user wrote. “Hats off to this teacher for making students think for themselves & not accept claims at face value.”

Meanwhile, J.K. Rowling is standing up for lesbians in Scotland who are being attacked as transphobic because they don’t want to sleep with men who say they are women.

“Glasgow Women’s Library has chosen to display a delightful penis-centred work (read the whole thread) designed to shame and coerce lesbians out of same-sex orientation,” Rowling reported on X. “If anyone can think of a more appropriate name for the Glasgow Women’s Library, do let me know.”

Melissa Fine
Latest posts by Melissa Fine (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles