Teachers' Corner: ProCon.org for Teachers and Librarians

We add schools to this list when we see that an educator (not a student) from that school has referenced ProCon.org, usually in a lesson plan, suggested resources list, social media reference to our content, published work, or as a response to our two-minute ProCon.org teacher/librarian survey.

A.Elementary & Middle Schools	819	21.8%
B.High Schools	1,926	51.3%
C.Colleges & Universities	1,010	26.9%
Total	3,755	100.0%

IV. Add My School to the List of Schools Using ProCon.org

V. How to Cite ProCon.org in Bibliographies and Endnotes

VI. Quotes about Critical Thinking

VII. Education Statistics, 2007-2009

A FEW MORE TESTIMONIALS:

ProCon.org Saves Schools Thousands of Dollars

"I'm a community college Librarian, and I think that ProCon.org is as good if not better than databases that I pay $1800-$2400/year for to support curriculum in my college."
Anonymous response to "The Next ProCon.org Issue Website” survey, Jan. 18, 2011

"Our school recently had to drop use of a similar paid program due to budget constraints. The cost was $2,000 per year. Needless to say, my debate students and I were frantic, until we discovered the ProCon.org site. Your service has saved our debate group! Thank you."
Kaywin Cottle, English and Debate Teacher at Preston High School, Preston, ID, May 24, 2010

Dr. Jonathan Haidt calls ProCon.org the "best antidote” to bias

"Among the biggest obstacles to good thinking is what we psychologists call ‘the confirmation bias.’ It’s the tendency to seek out only information that confirms your existing beliefs. ProCon.org is the best antidote to this bias that I have seen. It’s not just that it puts disconfirming information right there on the page, where it can’t be missed. It’s that ProCon.org models open-mindedness, respect for the complexity of truth, and respect for the sincerity of people on both sides of controversial issues. ProCon.org is a boon to our ailing civic culture." Oct. 21, 2012 - Jonathan Haidt, PhD, author of The Righteous Mind and famous TED speaker

Dr. Jason Glass, Iowa Department of Education Director, Calls ProCon.org an "Invaluable Teaching Tool"

"Both as a classroom teacher and as a state education chief, I’ve always found great value in honestly weighing an issue from all sides before taking a position or making a decision. The toughest questions we face rarely come with easy or simple answers and the ability to see things from multiple perspectives, and clearly articulate competing ideas, solidly improves the probability of making the best call. While our students need a solid foundation in academic basics, they also need the kind of critical thinking and decision making that is fostered through looking at issues with the methods demonstrated at ProCon.org. This website is an invaluable teaching tool for educators, and more importantly, future citizens."

Oct. 29, 2012 - Jason Glass, PhD, Iowa Department of Education Director

CA Supt. of Education Encourages Use of ProCon.org
	"I’m pleased to encourage California educators to add www.procon.org to the tools they use to help students learn more about important issues and develop their critical thinking skills. I have used www.procon.org personally and recommend that California teachers and librarians take advantage of this great - and free - educational resource."May 19, 2011 – Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Junior Statesmen of America CEO Recommends ProCon.org
	"ProCon.org is a fantastic resource for our JSA student members that has improved the quality of our debates and discussions. I recommend it for anyone looking for information on current events and controversial issues." June 1, 2011 - Jeff Harris, CEO of the Junior Statesmen of America Foundation
NPR Chairman (and Journalism Professor) Uses ProCon.org
	"I use procon.org in my college level journalism class. It helps me illustrate to my students how there are multiple points of view on every issue and the importance of including them in every story they write."Apr. 20, 2011 - Dave Edwards, Adjunct Journalism Professor at Alverno College (and Chairman of the National Public Radio (NPR) Board of Directors)
Fox News Finds ProCon.org Unbiased
	"ProCon.org is a great site for unbiased information. Allowing my listeners to form their own opinions is important. That is why I enjoy interviewing the people of ProCon.org on my program. They are the best at describing both sides of a debate"Aug. 17, 2010 - Peter Dunn, Fox News Radio, Indianapolis
New York Times Praises ProCon.org
	"The most comprehensive tool for researching the candidate’s stance on issues is the nonpartisan nonprofit ProCon.org.”Sep. 5, 2012 – "Great Free Websites for Teaching Election 2012” in "The Learning Network” feature of the New York Times
Congressman Rob Andrews Honors ProCon.org in the US House of Representatives and Congressional Record
	"It is my distinct pleasure to honor the staff of ProCon.org and wish them continued successes in their service to the American public. Their unbiased and truthful presentation makes a tremendous contribution to the political system." July 6, 2011 - Rob Andrews
Navy Admiral and Former Congressman Joe Sestak Calls ProCon.org "Objective and Well Researched"
	"Objective information is hard to come by in the media markets of today. ProCon.org provides objective and well researched information and analysis on some of America's most pertinent, often controversial, issues. It has been a wealth of knowledge for me and a source of valuable information for my staff. It serves pragmatic solutions well."Oct. 24, 2011 - Joe Sestak
Best-selling Education Author Lauds ProCon.org
	"ProCon.org is an excellent, free source for any teacher…[It] provides students with abundant opportunities to learn essential content, read closely to make inferences, synthesize competing claims, analyze arguments, and reach conclusions. I highly recommend this resource." 2011 - Mike Schmoker, best-selling author of Focus and Results Now
Past President of AASL Finds ProCon.org "Incredibly Practical and Effective”
	"ProCon.org is an incredibly practical and effective website for teaching and learning. The well-researched pro/con issues provide much non-biased information for students and staff researching contemporary topics.” July 15, 2010 - Harriet Selverstone, Past President of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL)

PROS AND CONSOF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

PROS AND CONS
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