FROM HOMEROOM TO HYSTERIA: HOW MAGA POLITICAL CONFLICT IS RUINING HIGH SCHOOL
It's no secret that the political climate in the United States is a bit tense right now. But did you know that this tension has seeped its way into our public schools? That's right, folks, MAGA madness has officially come to our classrooms.
According to a recent report by John Rogers and Joseph Kahne, political conflicts have had a chilling effect on public education. But let's be real, what's more chilling than a bunch of high schoolers arguing about politics? It's like watching a bunch of baby goats try to headbutt each other. Hilarious, yet slightly concerning.
The report found that principals in politically diverse communities (aka "purple districts") face the most challenges when it comes to addressing controversial issues. They're more likely to experience political pressure from parents, community members, and district officials. And let's be honest, no one wants to deal with Karen from PTA when she's on a mission.
But it's not just purple districts that are feeling the heat. Principals in politically homogeneous communities (aka "blue or red districts") are also facing their own set of challenges. They're more likely to encounter misinformation and disinformation among students and families. And let's face it, teenagers believing everything they read on the internet is about as surprising as a Kardashian posting a selfie.
So, what can we do about this? The report offers some recommendations for educators, policymakers, and civic leaders. But let's be real, we all know the real solution is to just make everything a joke.
Imagine if every time a student tried to argue about politics, the teacher responded with a dad joke. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how much I don't care." Or what if we replaced all textbooks with memes? "The history of the United States in one picture: George Washington crossing the Delaware, followed by a bunch of Kardashians crossing the street."
But in all seriousness, civic education and engagement are important. We need to prepare our students for the real world and teach them how to have civil dialogue. And let's be real, if we can't do that, we're all screwed.
So, let's take a page out of Leslie Knope's book and "treat yo' self" to some civic engagement. Let's have debates where the winner gets a free pizza. Let's have mock elections where the candidates are all fictional characters. And most importantly, let's remember that at the end of the day, we're all just a bunch of baby goats trying to headbutt each other.
Educating Diverse Democracy for a The Chilling Role of Political Conflict in Blue, Purple, and Red Communities https://idea.gseis.ucla.edu/publications/files/diverse-democracy-report
Public high school principals detail impact of political conflicts on students and educators - ABC7 Los Angeles https://abc7.com/public-schools-political-conflicts-in-the-classroom-uclas-institute-for-democracy-education/13788291/
THE DEFT DIVE
FROM BING AI
The Chilling Role of Political Conflict in Blue, Purple, and Red Communities is a report by John Rogers and Joseph Kahne that examines how the current political climate in the United States affects public education and civic engagement. The report is based on a survey of 3,000 high school principals and interviews with 60 principals from different regions and political contexts. The report finds that political conflicts have had a chilling effect that has limited opportunities for students to engage in learning and respectful dialogue on controversial topics and made it harder to address rampant misinformation. The report also offers recommendations for educators, policymakers, and civic leaders to support public schools as sites of democratic education and participation.
Some of the main findings of the report are:
- - Principals in politically diverse communities (purple districts) face the most challenges in addressing controversial issues and fostering civic engagement. They are more likely to experience political pressure from parents, community members, and district officials, and more likely to avoid or censor topics that might spark conflict.
- - Principals in politically homogeneous communities (blue or red districts) also face challenges, but of a different nature. They are more likely to encounter misinformation and disinformation among students and families, and less likely to expose students to diverse perspectives and experiences.
- - Principals across all types of communities report that the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 presidential election, and the racial justice protests have increased the level of political polarization and conflict in their schools and communities.
- - Principals across all types of communities also report that they value civic education and engagement, and that they try to provide opportunities for students to learn about current events, discuss controversial issues, participate in service learning, and engage with local government.
Some of the main recommendations of the report are:
- - Educators should adopt a proactive approach to civic education and engagement, rather than a reactive one. They should plan ahead for how to address controversial issues, prepare students for civil dialogue, and create a supportive school climate.
- - Policymakers should provide adequate funding, guidance, and professional development for civic education and engagement. They should also protect the academic freedom and professional judgment of educators from political interference.
- - Civic leaders should partner with public schools to offer authentic and meaningful opportunities for civic participation. They should also model civil discourse and respect for democratic norms and values.
Bing, 9/17/2023
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- (5) Hot-button political issues are having a chilling effect on public schools. https://phys.org/news/2022-12-hot-button-political-issues-chilling-effect.html.
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