The Teacher's Great Challenge: Staying Neutral with Students during a Contentious Election

At least once a year, one of my students asks me if I'm a Republican.

I am not. In fact, I have never voted for a Republican in any election, though I have considered it at times -- and so I might be offended by that student's assumption -- namely, that because I am a man and because I am what they consider white and because I am what they consider old and because that is who people associate with that party and the conservative agenda.

But I am not offended.

I am flattered -- and should be -- because their bogus assumption is a compliment -- it means that in teaching them I have succeeded in shielding them from my political opinions and biases.
It is probably foolish of me to believe that I've entirely concealed my beliefs from them -- or from anyone else.

But I insist on making the effort -- and urge other educators to do the same.

It is election time again and as many of us use the moment in the teaching of government, political science, rhetoric, and history I hope we all remember what it means to be a teacher.

This year's campaign seems destined to be a divisive and emotional one -- when, in recent history, has a presidential election not been?

And it is not always easy to keep those emotions in check in the classroom. But it is our job.

And so, for example, the students in my class will analyze the stump speeches of both major candidates along with those of some lesser known candidates and when we evaluate the claims and support and utilize factcheck.org to study the art of political deception, we will do so for everyone. We will pick apart the rhetorical strategies of every candidate, use criticalvoter.com to reveal the linguistic tricks of their trade and understand how words can change the world -- or be used to maintain the status quo.

I have had colleagues over the years who do not believe in pedagogical neutrality when it comes to politics.

They believe that their versions of social justice and righteousness are so right and so essential to the future of humanity that their mission is to persuade students to believe with them rather than trust the next generation by teaching them to think for themselves.

Though I often agree with their views on the world I disagree with their views about our role as teachers.

I am not indifferent to the struggle for justice and the future of humanity.

I just don't believe that encouraging students to echo our opinions is ever beneficial. It is arrogant and it is short-sighted.

The only long-term hope for all of us is that the next generation and the one after that can navigate their world, make sense out of it, understand it in the context of the past and the future, seek the truth, see the truths, and tell the truth. Their own -- not ours.

 

 

 

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Comments

[LyleORoss]

09:48 AM on 09/14/2012

I'm going to disagree with the author. The nature of today's politics is that it intersects with facts. The simple truth is that a cornerstone of the Republican party is that there is no global warming. This is not something a teacher can be neutral about. It is a teacher's obligation to point out the flawed thinking involved. A truly neutral teacher would focus on the fact and let the political chips fall where they will. That isn't going to happen, period. The teacher might avoid the issue, but then he is no longer neutral, he's taken a position of avoidance. But putting the facts out there can only be perceived as a criticism of the Republican party. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Larry Strauss]

02:40 AM on 09/16/2012

That's a good example, LyleORoss -- Global Warming.
There are scientists who argue its non-existence. They may be politically or economically motivated. In any case, I don't see a problem having students read the denial of global warming argument and figure out the flawed logic for themselves. Five or ten years from now, there will probably be new examples of mis-information and one hopes that one's former students will be equipped to sort through them...

[ljh312]

01:54 PM on 09/13/2012

Teachers should be teaching "critical" thinking skills to allow students to evaluate issues without bias. Unfortunately, our Education System is loaded with bias. It affects the way they interact with students, families, and the public, as well as how they respond to leadership, demands for improving the job of teaching and learning, and accountability. Viewing issues through a one dimensional lense prevents true change from occurring that can lead to better outcomes for children and adults. Step out of your comfort zone and into the real world. Evaluate your practice. Evaluate your beliefs. Many issues are complex and need to be evaluated from multiple perspectives.... not just black and white thinking

[Glen Lineberry]

11:46 PM on 09/12/2012

You're dead on here. I teach civics, and carefully avoid personal topics like political and religious affiliations. Our students need to learn to think through things for themselves, rather than taking (or, more likely, opposing) a position just because of what their teachers think.

I do, however, have a "Republicans for Voldemort" bumper sticker on the bulletin board.

[GlennWatson]

10:18 PM on 09/12/2012

I teacher government and I let my students know my opinion but I am careful to make sure they know it is not required that they believe as I do. I find that avoiding taking a stance makes the class wishy washy.

[LouStool]

07:10 PM on 09/12/2012

But they are pretty terrible. Was it a math class?

[janmB]

04:48 PM on 09/12/2012

When I attended public school, we did learn how gov't works....but I don't recall in class that we were lectured about political parties. I don't know what they teach in those religious-private schools but I can just imagine.

[Larry Strauss]

07:33 PM on 09/12/2012

A lot of educators have come to realize that using current events can be an effective means by which to give students more perspective on history or literature. If, for example, you are trying to teach reluctant learners about the electoral college, putting an electoral map of the last election or projects of the current one can give urgency to the topic. I teach rhetoric in my AP Language class and use speeches by Abraham Lincoln and other historical figures but also current political speeches so that students don't get tempted to believe they are studying a dead subject. I do not know what is taught in religious-private schools but I suspect that such matters vary as much as they do throughout our public and non-parochial schools... Thanks for the comment.

[CoachNelly2]

11:24 AM on 09/12/2012

You are absolutely right. I live in Texas but am a staunch liberal and sometimes have to bite my tongue at the words and opinions that come flying so haphazardly out of my student's mouths. I just encourage them to support a candidate (whichever they choose) for the RIGHT reasons....meaning they agree with his platform and believe he has the plan, the motivation and the ability to lead the country in a positive manner. I just hate when they parrot whatever hateful rhetoric Mommy and Daddy are watching at home without really understanding the issue.

[cullenthebrave]

10:57 AM on 09/12/2012

From my experience you are the exception rather than the rule. My daughter's hs history teacher last year went on several class long rants lambasting Republicans. For being a crappy teacher, which he is, he should be fired. Oh wait, he can't be fired, and he knows it.

[Larry Strauss]

07:36 PM on 09/12/2012

I don't like to hear about teachers who do that but obviously I know it goes on -- it's the reason I wrote this. Teachers can be fired, even just for being crappy, but it takes an awful amount of work on the part of administrators, many of whom are themselves overworked or shuffled around too often to notice or care much what is going on in classrooms. I'm sorry your daughter had to endure demagoguery disguised as education.