As high school teachers prepare for the first day of
class, they should be ready to address current events with students – but are
generally advised to hold back their opinions, educators say.
"This is a place where students are finding and refining
their voice and you are in an authority position," says Chris Bunin, a
social studies teacher at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Teachers could even risk their jobs if they share
opinions.
Students need help finding their own voice so they are prepared
to defend it, but also need to know how to understand opposing viewpoints.
[Learn how to foster civil discourse in high school civics
classes.]
"So many times, people just don't even want to consider the
other side," Bunin says. But understanding other points of view and
learning how to compromise are how communities and individuals can break the
gridlock, he adds.
In today's polarized political climate, it may be tough for some
teachers to remain neutral when discussing hot topics with their students. The
following three tips may help.
1. Find out
what questions students have: Questions asked by teachers could have some inherent bias,
Bunin says. Instead, he suggests teachers ask students if they have any
questions to kick off discussions.
"Often those questions will lead to a very authentic
conversation where you are not providing an opinion – you're just providing
answers to their questions," he says. Students also feel like their voice
is being heard, he says.
Bunin used this technique earlier this year when President
Donald Trump's administration issued an executive order limiting immigration
and the flow of refugees. His students were talking about it, and he knew he
had to address the topic in class.
Some students had simple questions, but if Bunin didn't have
answers, he researched the topics with his students.
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