By Bruce Piekarsa
Website Editor
Truly experiencing a presidential election for the first time gave me so much insight as to how polarizing politics can be for many individuals. At school, where students are meant to be getting their general education and learning a curriculum, politics don’t belong.
Since teachers have authority over their students, they shouldn’t be able to speak on controversial topics because of the power imbalance that exists. Discussing contemporary politics while having dominance in the space can lead to unintended consequences. A student wouldn’t be as willing to fully speak their mind to a teacher compared to a friend or stranger out of fear that it could affect how they’re treated in the class.
Teachers also have a big influence on their students, and by offering how they feel on politics, students will absorb the personal biases of their educators. As long as school is in session, teachers are only to give students what they came to school for, the curriculum.
Even if the teacher is acting as a nonpartisan moderator of political debate between students, problems still arise. If the majority of a class leans toward one side of the political spectrum, the minority would have fewer minds put together and they wouldn’t be as prepared for discourse. I would also be afraid of sharing my thoughts because it could lead to judgement from peers or again, unfair treatment from the teacher. A large portion of students might also change their political views purely to conform and assimilate into the larger population. Political discussions during class aren’t logical, and no student should be forced to sit through or participate in one.
Yes, the First Amendment forbids congress from making laws that restrict freedom of speech, assembly, petition, etc., but it’d be ridiculous to say that this allows teachers and students to say whatever they want in the classroom. If debates about religion, relationships or personal topics in general are inappropriate to discuss while school is in session, politics are as well.
I’ve met both liberal and conservative students at our school, and the reason I’m able to coexist with all of them is because I respect their beliefs and values while understanding that they may not align with mine. There’s nothing wrong with challenging what one believes, but breeding arguments over students’ ideals in school divides them and is simply impractical
This is school, not a political stage.
By Vincent Ramos
Staff Writer
The recent election bred a chaotic and polarizing political atmosphere in the lives of all Americans. Warranted or not, everyone has a thought to be shared and though politics have an overwhelming presence in our lives, some believe there are environments where it should be exempt from discussion, one being the classroom.
However, California schools are inherently political institutions that teach civic education to create a tolerant and equitable society. And to make use of this knowledge, classes should participate in sound political discussion and prepare students to live successfully in a politically free society.
If schools don’t teach politics, one dire consequence is the inability to access one’s rights and duties, leading to the marginalization of groups. So, mandating politics in the classroom plays an integral part in keeping a fair and just democracy.
Any attempt to convert or shift one’s beliefs is not fit for political discussion in any case. For example, if a teacher uses aggressive language like the Moreno Valley teacher who was fired for his hateful, angry anti-Trump rant, then it’s completely inappropriate. To generate sound and respectful political discourse, a teacher should raise questions that prioritize the practice of student’s critical thinking. Questions about current political events let students establish personal beliefs and stay educated on the state of our nation. And by expressing their beliefs, teachers add another level of complexity to the conversation by forcing students to challenge their biases.
When we acknowledge that we each have our unique beliefs, we strive for political efficacy, because we believe in civic engagement and want our voices to be heard. But by ignoring the presence of politics in our daily lives and barring any political discussion in an educational environment, we fail to learn these fundamental truths that keep our society running.