For most schools in Massachusetts this is the last weekend of summer. Teachers will enter their buildings on Monday to begin preparing for student arrivals. Students will be flooding the stores to buy that new pair of shoes, clothes, the coolest backpacks and if they have time maybe some of those not so cool school supplies.
On this last weekend of summer another group is flooding (hopefully not literally... Issac) into Tampa Bay to begin a week-long political ritual known as the Republican National Convention. It will be followed the week after by the Democrats' version in North Carolina. This provides for countless hours of political drama, "he said"/"she said," doomsday statements about Medicare, the civil war that will break out if one side gets elected, etc. But this is also a perfect teaching moment to truly engage students because they can relate their knowledge to the world they're seeing around them.
Andrew Jackson is attributed with holding the first truly "national" conventions to nominate a candidate for president in 1832. Prior to this, party elites would select the candidate they felt would best represent their interests in the White House. So despite the fact that these conventions seem distant and that the average person really doesn't have a say in what happens there - they represent a huge leap forward in the democratic process of party politics.
Not being too far removed from my classroom experience leading up to the 2008 elections, and having some distant memories of the 2004 elections I have a list of suggestions that might help teachers in disseminating the information, but leaving as many of their biases at home as possible.
1. If you're going to talk about one candidates stance on an issue, give an equal amount of time to the other candidate
On this last weekend of summer another group is flooding (hopefully not literally... Issac) into Tampa Bay to begin a week-long political ritual known as the Republican National Convention. It will be followed the week after by the Democrats' version in North Carolina. This provides for countless hours of political drama, "he said"/"she said," doomsday statements about Medicare, the civil war that will break out if one side gets elected, etc. But this is also a perfect teaching moment to truly engage students because they can relate their knowledge to the world they're seeing around them.
Andrew Jackson is attributed with holding the first truly "national" conventions to nominate a candidate for president in 1832. Prior to this, party elites would select the candidate they felt would best represent their interests in the White House. So despite the fact that these conventions seem distant and that the average person really doesn't have a say in what happens there - they represent a huge leap forward in the democratic process of party politics.
Not being too far removed from my classroom experience leading up to the 2008 elections, and having some distant memories of the 2004 elections I have a list of suggestions that might help teachers in disseminating the information, but leaving as many of their biases at home as possible.
1. If you're going to talk about one candidates stance on an issue, give an equal amount of time to the other candidate
Students pick up on any and all perceived biases that teachers have. If a teacher keeps telling students about one candidates plan and how it will save the country the students clearly know where that teacher's favor lies and might be unfairly swayed based on one side of the story. Students are impressionable and teachers have a lot more power than they might realize in shaping student ideas.
2. Try to avoid political satire
Its out there, and its funny, but it usually zeros in on a small one-sided part of an argument and often misses the big picture. While a well-educated adult who has had years to formulate their world-view can laugh at a show like "The Daily Show" but not take it too seriously, students haven't developed beyond believing everything they hear from a "reputable" person. They might not believe what John Stewart says, but if a teacher presents it as a good argument, that's another story. Tread carefully.
3. Play devil's advocate and keep your views a secret
Students WANT to know what you think about an issue. They will become increasingly inquisitive and read into every comment you say if you keep your opinions to your self. When having a discussion about politics (or any topic for that matter) always come prepared with both sides of the argument so you can debate against any idea your students present. Its good practice for people to see both sides of an issue before formulating an opinion. One of my favorite history teacher's in high school said he would tell us his political views after we graduated... I had him freshman year and despite countless attempts he never wavered. Upon graduating I could have asked (some friends did), but at that point I had realized his opinions were his own, and it was up to me to develop MY own based on what I'd learned, not based on what his were. A great lesson I hope to teach my students.
4. Teach your students about biases
They're everywhere. Every television news organization, every magazine, every newspaper has a bias of some sort. There's no such thing as a truly unbiased source of information in this country. However, if you teach students to take everything they hear with a grain of salt, find out what the other side is saying, and develop their own opinions, then you enable them to rise above the biases. Also, teach them the difference between the news and talking heads. National nightly news is very different and more likely to be factual than a show like "The O'Reilly Factor" or "Morning Joe." One is trying to present you with information (yes, it's still biased) while the other is also providing entertainment and trying to get ratings.
5. Don't cut productive conversations short
If your students are engaged, asking genuine questions and providing thoughtful and appropriate responses in a class discussion, your PowerPoint on Christopher Columbus can wait. (they probably won't pay attention to it anyway...) Allow students to spread their wings and become active members of the political process. The only way to ensure a democracy will work is to make sure the participants are educated. It's too late when they're 18 to start teaching them about the voting process and the issues, any opportunity to have a productive conversation or debate should be leaped upon. There will be plenty of time to cover the other topics the rest of the year.
-MB
-MB