At what point do we draw the line in political discussions on campus? This election season, it seems as though politics is constantly brought up in one way or another – it’s an easy conversation starter, and a good way to stay on top of current events. However, just because it starts out easy, that doesn’t mean it always ends the same way. In a climate where there’s a multitude of different voices and opinions, we must ask ourselves, as a community, if and when these discussions are appropriate on the GA campus.
In order to grow as a society and as individuals, politics must be discussed in daily life, under the assumption that it is being spoken about in a safe environment. When asked in an anonymous survey about whether or not it’s acceptable to discuss politics in the classroom, one answer says it’s more beneficial to have these conversations in the classroom, especially so that “students will receive some education on political matters from reliable sources vetted by the much more educated faculty,” also adding that, “this can make it easier for students to go out and do their own research on political topics [and] issues.” Additionally, when students participate in a facilitated classroom discussion, there’s opportunity for different perspectives to respectfully converse – something vital to the growth of our societal well-being.
When asked if the community thinks it’s acceptable to be talking about politics during lunch, 74.6% said yes, many saying it feels “safer,” and less forced. One member of the community elaborates, “you can’t just ignore the world around you.” We must not shy away from these conversations, or turn a blind eye to the world around us. Rather, we must create spaces that feel comfortable enough to have them be discussed.
While political discussions are a vital component of our education system, they have a certain time and place. In a survey that was sent out to the GA Upper school, the community was asked whether or not political discussions are appropriate for classroom settings; about 60% of the responses yielded that it depends on the situation. From the responses, it seems preferred that politics should only be integrated into the conversation if it relates to the curriculum. In courses such as science or math, it is often unnecessary and distracting to bring politics into the picture. However, in courses such as history or english, understanding different political viewpoints and philosophies can be greatly valuable. When political conversations arise at inappropriate times, especially when they question individual rights, they can be highly uncomfortable and destructive.
On another note, when the survey asked if it is acceptable for a faculty member to share their political views, the responses witnessed about 27% of individuals arguing that the faculty should not do so. Responses stated that teacher-student relationships can be damaged, and teachers can potentially develop biases about their students. Moreover, when students know about their teacher’s political views, they may express untruthful opinions just to please their teachers.
To help ease these tensions and foster political conversations in our community, the GA Upper school has begun to focus on Civil Discourse. The aim of Civil Discourse is to continue political conversations within our community in a respectful and appropriate manner. Our country is currently witnessing rapid and sometimes confusing changes, and to turn a cold shoulder to them in the setting that students spend the majority of their life is a huge disservice to our community as a whole. We as a community cannot flourish and progress in an environment where people do not feel safe to express the way they feel about a certain topic. Of course, there are fine boundaries that should never be crossed, such as disrespecting someone else’s existence. According to the survey, the majority of the responses to Civil Discourse are that it is important that our community follow through with it and fully open the gateway to having these conversations. While Civil Discourse seems like a foreign concept in American political life, we should strive to foster these discussions in our community and inspire others to do the same. Our youth are our country’s future voters and need to be educated on politics in a respectful manner.
