Politics In the Classroom

I have never attempted to sway or persuade students to adopt my view on politics.  For the record, I lean toward the Democratic party and absolutely despise our current President.  I'd like to believe, though, I'm more of a moderate than a liberal, and I'd like to believe that I can objectively listen and review thoughts or philosophies that are more Republican in nature.

That being said, I don't regularly make a point to subject my students toward my political views, but there has been occasion where a discussion with a group of students or perhaps event the class includes sharing of personal viewpoints.  In those cases, I don't shy away from sharing my viewpoints and attempt to encourage students to share their viewpoints.  The important part of this exchange is that students genuinely feel like they can openly express their views without feeling like they will somehow be scrutinized or cross-examined for their thoughts. 

I try, then, to avoid being a "commentary-show-host".  It's so aggravating to watch news commentary shows invite guests to share their views with the sole purpose of bashing them.  Not only do these hosts often interrupt their guests, they verbally and non-verbally scold the guests...and for what - for answering the question that had been presented by the host.

We need to develop ourselves and our students the respect for each other to have civil discussions of differing viewpoints.  And we need to genuinely attempt to gain understanding of the opposing viewpoint in order to determine the value of both points.  And it's okay for someone else to offer a viewpoint that just may cause me to look at my viewpoint differently - something many politicians could and should embrace.

So when politics arise in the classroom, use the opportunity to model for students how civil conversations about potentially strong differences of viewpoint can occur.