Discussing political issues in the classroom is one thing. Sharing your own personal political views with students in the classroom is something else entirely. Take the time to properly structure the former and avoid the latter. www.latimes.com/california/s... - ThreadSky

civilwarmemory.bsky.social • 215 days ago

Discussing political issues in the classroom is one thing. Sharing your own personal political views with students in the classroom is something else entirely. Take the time to properly structure the former and avoid the latter. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-11-21/do-california-teachers-have-right-to-slam-trump

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9tellthetruth.bsky.social•215 days ago

I'm not sanewashing a Nazi president and the fascism spreading in this country.

civilwarmemory.bsky.social•215 days ago

I don't know what this means in connection to this story.

9tellthetruth.bsky.social•215 days ago

You rejected what the teachers were doing. Sanewashing is what got this Nazi back in office.

civilwarmemory.bsky.social•215 days ago

Yes, because it treats students in a way that is inappropriate. You apparently disagree. OK.

9tellthetruth.bsky.social•215 days ago

It's being honest with students, as opposed to forcing your religious ideology onto students, forcing them to practice religion, forcing them to abide by specific what they will term gender roles, outing trans students, please let me know when you disagree there.

9tellthetruth.bsky.social•215 days ago

Or when you refuse a student from attending school because of their hair, even though a law allows them to attend, but your racial prejudices take precedent. So please express your outrage, I'm waiting.

civilwarmemory.bsky.social•215 days ago

I already explained where I disagree. Using the classroom as a platform for your political views (regardless of political affiliation) is nothing more than a form of bullying and disrespect. In more than 20 years in the classroom, I never once did it. I had too much respect for my students.

naquadria3.bsky.social•215 days ago

I have mixed feelings about this, but I agree that there is a time and place for politics. Many of us are feeling anxious and worried about the prospect of another Trump term, but cursing his name in class is unprofessional and does nothing to reduce or address those feelings and concerns.

joelcalahan.com•215 days ago

I find it disheartening because there’s a general mistrust of public education brewing out there, that educators are “brainwashing” kids or whatever. This kind of behavior merely confirms what some parents assume of public education.

mrbrooksher.bsky.social•215 days ago

Most instances I've seen of teachers espousing their views to students have been conservative teachers. And the vast majority of claims of teachers "indoctrinating" their students come from right wingers. My experience may be skewed due to living in such a red area, but🤷‍♂️

mrbrooksher.bsky.social•215 days ago

I think it's all the more important that liberal/left teachers make sure they do everything above board in this regard. Be above reproach. If you're dealing with these topics, do it the right way.

civilwarmemory.bsky.social•215 days ago

As teachers we need to show the utmost respect for our students and not simply use them for our own purposes. And that is exactly what a teacher is doing when imposing their political views on students in the classroom.

mrbrooksher.bsky.social•215 days ago

Yep. It's frustrating when states are doing things like requiring the Trump/Lee Greenwood bible to be in classrooms and making PragerU official resources. But we have to be better than that

dkst0426.bsky.social•215 days ago

A colleague in another grade level emailed me Prager resources. I declined as politely as I could.

dkst0426.bsky.social•215 days ago

Since you're a CW specialist, you might find this relevant: when I teach the Reconstruction Amendments, I do a writing prompt about modern-day prison labor and wages (or lack thereof). It's quite an eye-opener for students.

dkst0426.bsky.social•215 days ago

Even students who have shared "If they did the crime, they should do the time" positions have been alarmed by how the prison system affects low-income families.

mimva.bsky.social•215 days ago

As a state employee at a public history site, I frequently tell new staff that we must avoid discussing present day politics. We can, however, talk about political issues in the time periods we cover (17th-mid 19th centuries).

mimva.bsky.social•215 days ago

Our guests are welcome to make assumptions, based on how we interpret history—but we should never give them empirical means to validate those assumptions

ancientreader.bsky.social•215 days ago

I might argue, though, that since one can't help but have a point of view, better to acknowledge it than not. I take yr point about a teacher's authority & bullying-but is there no way to be frank abt one's own biases short of bullying?

civilwarmemory.bsky.social•215 days ago

A teacher ranting about politics in front of their students is not only setting a poor example of what it means to engage in meaningful dialog, it treats the students themselves as a means to an end. It has nothing to do with their well being and development as independent thinkers.

dkst0426.bsky.social•215 days ago

It's a challenge I've toed the line on. My veteran colleague has expressed his reservations to me about some of the topics I cover, but I've done so without incident.

dkst0426.bsky.social•215 days ago

There was this one kid who wrote in an "If I Were Running For President" writing prompt that he wanted to build a wall to keep beaners out, and that incurred a significant deduction. I told him in writing that it wasn't about the opinion, but the wholly-inappropriate manner in which he expressed it.

dkst0426.bsky.social•215 days ago

CCed my admin when I responded to him. He continued grumbling, but that settled it. Same kid loudly opined about how our LGBT club was "wrong," but had no response when I asked him why or how members of that club had wronged him.

camasonian.bsky.social•215 days ago

Yes. It also undermines your effectiveness.

My daughter had a Trumpy HS band teacher during the pandemic. He would rant every am about mask and vaccine mandates, etc.

The only thing he convinced them of was that he was not worthy of their respect.

After his wife died of COVID he went silent.

dkst0426.bsky.social•215 days ago

One of my colleagues told students she was tired of wearing "Chinese face diapers". I reported her to my admin when students told me about it, but somehow she talked her way out of it. She also ranted about how she thought it was inappropriate that I used CNN10 in class. For Social Studies. 🤔

camasonian.bsky.social•215 days ago

I teach science. When students ask about MY politics I always respond thusly:

“My key issues are public education, civil rights, the environment, and science. YOU research the candidates on those issues and tell me who you think I should vote for.”

Everything can be a teachable moment.

dkst0426.bsky.social•215 days ago

BTW, that teacher I was talking about? Science. 🙄🤦‍♂️

almackey.bsky.social•215 days ago

I absolutely 100% agree. Teachers should dispassionately discuss the political situation to allow students to understand it, not push their partisan positions. Partisanship has no place in the classroom. It's completely unprofessional.

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