Politics in schools?

[mom'sfolly]

A good teacher, even at elementary levels, will find many a "teachable moment" with election questions. If a teacher is asked a direct question, they should answer it, but they don't need to elaborate on it. I can think of many things that can be taught through talking about the election.

how elections work
who can vote
requirements for presidency
branches of the government
math of election counting, polling, voting statistics
history of enfranchising or disenfranchising voters
the evolution of voting rights from property owning white men to all citizens regardless of race or gender
how you can lose voting rights
what is advertizing and how it works
what kind of art does political campaigns encourage; politcal ads, logos, cartoons, etc

The misinformation people are talking about is probably not teacher driven, but kid to kid talk.

 

[conny63malies]

Quote:
I cant vote because i am not american .My husband sees good and bad in both ,he is not registered with either political party.

I didnt mean anything personal. I know there are a lot of people that cant vote d/t their current circumstances. Was just curious (as a retired career military person myself) why, since your hubby is in the Army, he refuses to vote. I am confused with that.

We are not talking too much politics at home, to be honest i never asked him why he wont for neither of them. I guess there will be alwys someting "wrong" with a canditate. I knoew he voted the last time but not for whom.

 

[conny63malies]

mom'sfolly :

A good teacher, even at elementary levels, will find many a "teachable moment" with election questions. If a teacher is asked a direct question, they should answer it, but they don't need to elaborate on it. I can think of many things that can be taught through talking about the election.

how elections work
who can vote
requirements for presidency
branches of the government
math of election counting, polling, voting statistics
history of enfranchising or disenfranchising voters
the evolution of voting rights from property owning white men to all citizens regardless of race or gender
how you can lose voting rights
what is advertizing and how it works
what kind of art does political campaigns encourage; politcal ads, logos, cartoons, etc

The misinformation people are talking about is probably not teacher driven, but kid to kid talk.

So true , yesterday they voted on different things like which dessert they should have ........
Mos of the stuff she comes home is kid to kid or little tidbits they get of the TV. LOt of kids are amazed that he dad is in the army nd not in Iraq. It is what they see and absorb.​

 

[texaschickmama]

I strongly believe that the processes of democracy be discussed in schools, not specific candidates. I'm proud to say that my son's school held a mock election. Lots of thought was put into this. Nobody influenced his vote, but me.

 

[1acrefarm]

I believe teachers should just stick to the facts and not promote a candidate or party. Back when I was a child liberalism was shoved down my throat at school. I even had one crazy teacher encouraging us to tell our parents about all of Mondale's "qaulities".

 

[chels23]

The problem with the teacher was that she said Obama was the antichrist. I think that is more religion then politics. I didn't elaborate because putting politics and religion into one discussion can really blow up. I don't want to start arguments, I just wanted to know if anyone else thought that maybe the teacher shouldn't have said it.

 

[1acrefarm]

Yes that teacher was way out of line. A teachers job is to teach not try to spread political and religious views.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Quote:
Agreed. Thats pretty bad. I been hearing alot in the media and my moms b/f saying that obama is a muslim. um... ok? I thought he was christian?

 

[1acrefarm]

Quote:
Agreed. Thats pretty bad. I been hearing alot in the media and my moms b/f saying that obama is a muslim. um... ok? I thought he was christian?

I will not elaborate too far but it is alot more complicated than that. His church was a liberation theology church. I will not say what liberation theology is about due to friction it could cause on the site but it is easy to google.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Quote:
Agreed. Thats pretty bad. I been hearing alot in the media and my moms b/f saying that obama is a muslim. um... ok? I thought he was christian?

I will not elaborate too far but it is alot more complicated than that. His church was a liberation theology church. I will not say what liberation theology is about due to friction it could cause on the site but it is easy to google.

Stll. Why should it matter about color or religion? Its more about debates and things like that. This person will be running america. Not your church.