The answers were quite varied, but many of the answers spoke to students' enthusiasm for the learning experiences we offer. The last part of Brookfield's visit to NVCC-Loudoun concerned discussion and became an active question and answer session. He also cited Jennifer Gore's explanation that students who feel different hate sitting in a circle. It takes time to earn students' trust, which comes when they perceive no contradiction between your expressed policies and your reactions to what they do.
Mandatory discussion is really pretty autocratic.
Teachers who explain the rationale of an activity beforehand and model behavior before asking it of students will get less resistance. During discussion, it is wise to have students pause to reflect on the discussion so far, to jot down what is more troubling or more important. In particular, it's important to give students who haven't spoken the opportunity to speak, if they wish. Groups post their views on large pieces of newsprint that are hung around the classroom. Individuals move from paper to paper to write in their comments.