**Speaking Up for Civility**
Source: Teaching Tolerance.org
Author: Southern Poverty Law Center
Date: September 1st, 2016
Key Points: This article points out the importance of presidential elections in our country. They teach students how to be engaged as a citizen. It is where students learn democracy, researching issues, and observing adults around them for their opinions and feedback. The article also states how messy this year's election has been. It has been very negative when it comes to being respectful and civil in our country. The article provides contracts to get schools, classrooms, and students back in a healthy mindset when it comes to not only elections but also listening and respecting other people's views. The civility contracts highlight what should be done as an individual. The contracts encourage students and adults to discuss not only the election but anything that has to do with being civil. The contracts for the adults in a school setting states; “I will speak up when I hear name-calling, stereotypes, or slurs. I will do this because children are listening and it is important to model good citizenship.” There is also a contract for students stating they will be respectful of other’s views when differences occur during discussions among many other mature ideas and behaviors.
Intended Audience: All school employees, students, and parents.
Ultimately this article is an excellent way to teach and sustain tolerance within the school and classroom. The article is also a great look at how to tackle such a loaded topic as an unruly election. This year’s election has brought about many different questions for our students when it comes to society. We as future educators need to be able to facilitate these conversations successfully so students know what it means to be civil and respect one another even if opinions and views differ. The article is well done and provides wonderful reminders for adults during these important times of our country. It helps us to remember WHO is watching us and our reactions in the face of injustice, slander, or pure disrespect.
This is such a profound topic - our young children should be so much better informed about political issues and topics than they have been this election year. I can only imagine what younger kids and teens have absorbed from the media and surrounding people regarding this election and how dirty and nasty it has been. Once I reached the age that sparked my political interest, I wished I would have been much more educated under the entire politcal umbrella than i had been. I believe in kids and teens should have to take a class in the area of study.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great article and think that more than children need to hear it. I have shared it with friend who are upset about how their kids' teachers are approaching the subject. Most are complaining about teachers "pushing their liberal agenda" so maybe they as parents need to hear it too. Unfortunately I wonder if they even realize some of the negative talk they are promoting. As my ex-husband used to say "I'm not talking bad about that person, I am simply telling the truth."
ReplyDeleteI think it can be re-taught every year during high school elections. They still do that, right - class president and such?
I have to agree with this idea. This years election has been very negative to say the least for our kids. And in some cases we wouldn't want our kids to hear some of the things being said. I do believe that we should teach our children about the election process because it is an important part of being an American, to be able to voice your beliefs for a candidate to represent us. Teaching a People and Politics class right now must be very challenging. But also, one of the most important classes the kids could have right now. In being a good American citizen, our kids should be taught the civility too.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an important topic to discuss. I am so saddened by the negativity our students are being inundated by the media and other sources. Just today, as I sat with a few students in a small group discussion about Syrian refugees; the discussion was quickly diverted to Trump. The students are fearful. They really believe that if he gets elected they will have to go back to Mexico. I was sad because of their fear they felt. I felt sad because they have been exposed to all of this negativity. I took the opportunity as a teaching moment, and for the moment eased their fears a bit. There is so much more we need to be doing as teachers.
ReplyDeleteDue to the negativity this election had, some teachers opted out of having a lesson on it. Others at my school went ahead and still discussed the process and how or why it works how it does. A second grade teacher used ice cream flavors and actually had students campaign and vote. It was fun to see hear them talk about it. A fifth grade teacher actually used the current candidates and did her presidential election lesson. I found that the students that had a lesson in class were less negative about the outcomes. Now, they have an idea of what their civic duty will be once they are 18.
ReplyDelete