Is there a place for opinions in the classroom?

http://www.npr.org/blogs/tellmemore/2010/05/14/126826529/diverse-life-experiences-enrich-the-classroom?sc=fb&cc=fp

While reading this, I can't help but wonder how teachers could frame discussions of opinions in the classroom. I don't think they should share their own opinion represented as fact, but they could begin a discussion by addressing both sides of a debate and then guide the students to find their own opinions. Students are heavily influenced by not only their teachers, but also other friends and adults. Let's teach them how to think of their own opinions. This would be a way to spark some research projects and further study. It is a challenging job, especially when you feel strongly about a topic - but shouldn't this be our job? We need to model appropriately researched debate and discussions. Also, we need to teach students to question their sources as well. Is wikipedia or a random person's web site a valid source? We can do this at all ages; I start with my fourth graders. The classroom is certainly not a place for dictating propaganda.

This is one problem I see with putting the teacher in a position as the all-knowing one in a more traditional system. The teacher is expected to dictate to students what they need to know and students are expected to take that as rote and spit it back out. This forum makes it challenging for a student to process their own opinions and share them appropriately. Sometimes this creates an adversarial relationship between teacher and student. (Of course, I know there are some wonderful teachers in this position that do not do this, but the system does make it possible.)

Maybe someone else has some thoughts. Share them here!