Should Teachers Be Allowed To Discuss Politics In The Classroom?

Question

I was watching a YouTube podcast reacting to the Jubilee video Conservative Parents vs Liberal Teachers so this question is inspired by that.

I am somebody who wants to go into teaching so here is my view on politics in the classroom:

At a primary school level (5-11) no. Children at this stage in their lives are just learning basic skills like reading, writing, do simple Maths they're simply not mature enough to be having political discussions in the classroom.

At a secondary school level, it depends. For example, there's classes where politics should be irrelevant like Maths and Science. But then there's certain classes where politics needs to be discussed like Sociology and History for example because politics links to the subject. However, I think it is completely wrong for teachers to tell students who to vote for, ridicule students for having certain political beliefs, or stereotype a whole group of people based on who they vote for. And no teacher, should be advocating for their preferred political candidate in the classroom. It is just not appropriate, irrelevant and can alienate students who hold opposing political beliefs.

What are your thoughts on this matter?

Should Teachers Be Allowed To Discuss Politics In The Classroom?

blueonblack22 · Accepted Answer

Teachers not only shouldn’t be doing this but they also choose lesson plans that “educate” students towards their views.

I remember my HS AP English teacher made the class read almost exclusively feminist (“the Awakening” and “Their eyes were watching God”) and “revolutionary” radical black nationalist novels (“the Invisible man”). But we didn’t study 1984 or Animal Farm. I also remember her having feminists stickers on the classroom billboards.

At the time I didn’t realize what she was doing but I do now. I am definitely against reading different viewpoints and ideals. You need to be open minded to both sides of the spectrum to come up with the best conclusion. But when the lesson plan is exclusively towards a specific political viewpoint than that’s indoctrination. Period.

When I got older and recognized that crap it actually pushed me further in the opposite direction. From my observations it’s usually leftists who are adamant about promoting a particular narrative while trying to censor dissenting viewpoints.

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

As a teacher, if the students can figure out your personal politics, you have failed. Today, that would likely disqualify 70% of teachers, who feel it is their right and their obligation to push their personal politics at every opportunity.

Discussing politics in RELEVANT subjects in high school is okay, because that is the age when those things become relevant, but, again, students should not be able to gleen the teacher's personal politics because they should be taking a neutral stance in the classroom.

I couldn't tell you what positions any of my teachers, from K-12, held, because they put teaching first. That's certainly not what is being taught to teachers in college today.

AmyHew1tt · Accepted Answer

Since it's very rare, especially in this climate, to have a teacher be completely (and allowed to be) neutral about politics, I think it's best to keep them out of school unless you're discussing things that happened in the past, in which case there's no getting out of it. Even fifteen+ years old can be easily brainwashed.

In my old school, even the young grades were made to introduce themselves with their pronouns when presenting a project, whether or not they were into that. You shouldn't force children, or anyone, to question what gender they are or thrust them into the mainstream mindset.

Razp_Sorbet · Accepted Answer

I think in general they should be discussed but in a non biased way. Like explain how it all works because honestly I'm 25 and still fucking confused because nobody taught me.

I remember being like 12 at intermediate (middle school) and the substitute teacher asking the class who our parents vote for. The arguments that broke out amongst a bunch of kids who didn't even know the difference between each party was crazy. It was an inappropriate discussion and I think many parents complained, don't remember ever seeing him again.

ShadezMcgee · Answer

No. Teachers should o ly teach and help kids become proficient in their subjects of expertise that they were hired to do. You wouldn't ask a car mechanic to do nuclear physics, right?

When teachers are given the ability to teach kids, they are not exploit that privilege by using it as a means to preach a dogma as a means of indoctrination or influence to shape their views. That is a breach of trust between teachers and parents and is unfair to the kid. It is telling when you see these college age teachers flipping shit over a kid ha ing a different opinion on a political standpoint or even when it can be a simple different view they voice and it isn't even coming from a political stance, it just happens to align in that area that triggers the teacher.

Those teachers are the ones who are dangerous and need to find a new line of work.

abc3643 · Answer

What should be discussed are facts. However, in most cases, current events politics really shouldn't be discussed too much beyond facts and historical context.

For instance, in an 11th Grade Social Studies/Civics class (which in NY State, is often about American Government and American History), discussing the recent House Speakership election is a legitimate topic.
These things are legitimate to discuss:
1. Explaining the election process and the Constitutional basis for it.
2. Stating that, usually, the Speaker is elected on the First Ballot.
3. Giving exceptions such as 1923.
4. Explaining why this took 15 ballots and how it finally passed.
5. Explaining that the holdouts were members of the Republican Party who are considered "far right".

What is not legitimate to discuss on this topic is whether or not "far right" policies are good or bad for the country; that's preaching, not discussing factual information.

Guy13 · Answer

Teachers are not without feeling, opinions, and are embolden by our government.

I know Teachers, of a Conservative nature, that have left that system once kids were taught to march against Conservatives and to transform into girls/guys at 9 years of age.

She went to a once occupied Soviet Union communist state in Baltics where hyphenated names such as African/Asian-Americans and LGBT is not allowed to be in the country. Those of those mind-set are expelled.

The other parents I know are homeschooling or at selected conservative or even religious private
Schools.-50% of these are Muslims, Indian 🇮🇳, and Asian.

And when the President says, “you are more important than the parents in molding children” then teachers are empowered. Hitler (paint hanger) and Josef Stalin (son of Pastor/brilliant educator) said the same thing as our President has.

D_Bone_Steak · Answer

The basics of how things are supposed to work, the constitutional rights, and so on.

People's own political opinions should be kept to themselves... the same goes for opinions in the culture war. Like I don't understand why a teacher would feel the need to share their sexuality or political opinions with a bunch of kids.

They kept theistic religion out but I think this new non-theistic religion which is tied into politics shouldn't find a home in schools either (wokeism).

School choice is going to have to become a thing because of how bad schools have gotten with this stuff. Kids come home now knowing wtf a non-binary cis person is but they can't spell or do basic math... that's a major problem. If it's some elective the kid picks, then maybe, but they should bring back woodshop if that's going to be a thing.

HighValue · Answer

From what I have seen in liberal CA, teachers can't handle teaching the truth. They purposely hide some truths and instead teach edited, censored, and intentionally dishonest information. It is usually obvious which teachers will do that because the American flag will likely not be displayed in the classroom even though it is required. The district where I am now had to start doing the flag salute over the intercom for every class to hear and participate in because some teachers weren't having their class do it and hid their class's American flag in the cabinet. I personally witnessed it being hidden from multiple other teachers because grade level meetings take place in different classrooms during different weeks.

AmeerX · Answer

Politics and discussions at early age means you want to brainwash children. I used to be rigid because of that. I mend my way thank God and I feel less stressed now. I don't think everyone is like me but I wish people kept political debates with 25+ age people.

Even if you are right, forcing good on people is same as evil. So never ofrce someone who is an adult. And for children just force them when the idea in there mind is totally unacceptable like Murder or theft and so on. Check stages of moral development. Children are at stage 1

Lliam · Answer

Teachers should be teaching facts and information, not pushing their own personal ideologies.
Students should be taught to think for themselves and formulate their own opinions.

I would say that politics should be kept out of primary and middle school except in history and sociology classes.

It should be forbidden for teachers to push their own ideologies and political partisanship.

melanieeeB · Answer

Yes but in a neutral way. Like I think my teachers did a great job with the topic politics, we learned the basics of politics, how our government is elected and the different duties, talked about the top parties and etc and our teacher would never say his personal view

Twalli · Answer

I mostly agree with you. I had a class that dealt with the one-dimensional political spectrum (radical, liberal, conservative, reactionary). It was essential to study each of these in detail for the class. I think this model is phased out as a two-dimensional spectrum is better, but that was back in 2006, so over a decade ago. It's fairly easy to teach politics, if you've been trained in it, and people need to learn it eventually. It's not a good idea to have kids learn it only from their parents and don't have the ability to choose their politics based on the views of their parents.

AviatorTom · Answer

A discussion on current politics has no place in the classroom. The only politics that should be discussed is that which deals with history, in history class, politics in the past.

Students are too trusting, and generally believe everything their teacher says. That can easily lead to brainwashing, even if it's unintentional.

Summeroflove · Answer

I say it depends. If you’re giving both sides of a issue and not just spewing your own opinion or bringing politics into literally everything.

Go ahead. In fact politics is something taught in government, civics, ethics, and other classes like that

whorable · Answer

they have debating classes for this reason.. but in a normal class.. if the class was mature enough they could have a conversation and talk about their opinions during lunch or whatever.. not durning class tho bc yeah politics shouldn’t be in a normal class

lightbulb27 · Answer

Discussing issues and both sides seems ok. for example, explore both science views of global climate change and ensuing policies so that kids see how humans have hard decisions to make and why there are arguments. the problem with this is, most people can't do this.

discussing people looks flawed.

Discussing how to explore issues maybe.

you may be a fair, balanced person. many are not.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Teachers are meant to inform people, usually young people, with FACTS. That’s the full extent of their rights and responsibilities as educators. “Politics” is presently mostly lies, propaganda and mud slinging. If teachers can present political FACTS, they must; as long as the context is appropriate. If they can’t or won’t, they should stick to their curriculum and leave the indoctrination to the families that they so deeply resent and disrespect.

supercutebutt · Answer

Yes. Teachers need to teach about the dangers of political propaganda and how to discern between BS & reality so we don't end up with a world full of mindless, violent cultists. Trumptard go boom.

goaded · Answer

IIRC, Maggie made a law prohibiting discussing current events in schools. You could talk about politics that were old, but not what was ongoing. (And yes, I used to have milk every day in primary school, until she stopped it.)

I also remember https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28

I'd say yes, with older children, but factually and without driving the conversation.

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

Political opinions and religion don't belong in the classroom.

Education about how the political system works, how taxes get spent, how laws are made, how the "elections" work, etc. should be, but I don't trust that they will be accurate or honest about any of it, as it would make the country's leaders look bad for not having actual fairness, logic, or justice in most of it.

bolverk · Answer

"Should Teachers Be Allowed To Discuss Politics In The Classroom?" No, teachers are there to stick to the educational curriculum, not deal with Politics in any shape or form unless they are part of at particular lesson and even then only in the broadest of terms, and the teacher should NEVER EVER favour one political party over another and show that bias in the classroom, if they cannot do that then they should NOT be in a Classroom.

Kinkyhubby · Answer

It should only be brought up in social studies class. ot s political type class. The teacher should be in the middle, not pushing anyone to one side. It should a talking point for the kids to discuss. It is healthy for them to learn our system, but not brainwashed.

purplepoppy · Answer

There's no harm in explaining different political view points but personal political beliefs shouldn't be pushed.

Should Teachers Be Allowed To Discuss Politics In The Classroom?

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