Teaching During an Election Year: Strategies for Educators

Setting Expectations: Begin with clear statements and policies that establish community norms for civil discourse. Use these as a foundation for discussion practices throughout the course. For instance, you might highlight acceptable and unacceptable behavior. This could include examples on respectful listening, the prohibition of personal attacks, and the encouragement of diverse viewpoints.

Supporting Wellbeing: Address the emotional and physical stress associated with election seasons by offering guidance and access to mental health resources. Campus resources include the The Counseling Center, McKinley Health Services – Mental Health Program and the Connie Frank CARE Center (formerly the Student Assistance Center. Use these available resources to underscore the importance of self-care for your students.

Promoting Civic Engagement: Encourage voter participation by integrating civic engagement activities into your course. Provide resources like voter registration information and critical analysis of electoral issues tailored to your discipline. If appropriate for the subject and content of your course, consider how you might engage students in election related activities.

Examples:

• Critical analysis of a speech, op-ed, article etc.
• Compose an op-ed, speech, letter to a public official etc.
• Conduct statistical analysis of polling or demographic data
• Research pros and cons of a public policy

Navigating Controversy: Be prepared with strategies to handle both planned and unexpected controversial topics. Emphasize discussion practices that respect diverse perspectives and promote critical thinking. Offer guidance on navigating differences without infringing on anyone else’s rights. Strategies to consider include:

• Use of I-Statements: Teach students to express their opinions and feelings with “I” statements, which focus on the speaker’s own experiences and feelings rather than making generalizations about others. For example, instead of saying, “You are wrong,” one could say, “I feel concerned about this because…”
• Active Listening: Emphasize the importance of active listening, which involves paying close attention to what the other person is saying without planning your response while they are speaking. Encourage students to reflect back what they have heard and ask clarifying questions. This shows respect for the speaker and helps avoid misunderstandings.
• Ground Rules for Discussions: Set clear ground rules that prioritize respectful interaction. These might include not interrupting, avoiding name-calling, and keeping discussions focused on ideas rather than personal attributes.

Protecting Free Speech: Educate your students about the balance between free speech and maintaining a productive academic environment.

Legal Right to Free Speech: Free speech as protected by the U.S. Constitution (primarily under the First Amendment) allows individuals to express themselves without government censorship or punishment. This legal right covers a wide range of expressions, including political protest and public discourse. For instance, outside the classroom, a student may participate in a public rally or online forum expressing strong political views without fear of government interference, as long as their actions don’t incite violence or involve illegal activity.

Norms in a Classroom Setting: In contrast, academic settings prioritize the pursuit of knowledge, critical thinking, and a respectful exchange of ideas. While students are encouraged to explore diverse viewpoints and express dissenting opinions, this expression is governed by academic norms designed to maintain a productive and inclusive environment. For example, in a university classroom discussing climate change policies, a student is expected to present their arguments based on scientific evidence and respect the viewpoints of peers, even when disagreeing. The classroom norms would discourage shouting, personal attacks, or the use of unfounded claims, focusing instead on reasoned debate and evidence-based discussion.

Value Different Perspectives: Remind students that elections provide an opportunity to learn from people with different political views and life experiences, and of the value of engaging with multiple perspectives, even those you may disagree with.

Facilitate reflective discussions and offer resources to help them process the outcomes of the election and their potential implications.

• Preparation and Framing: Begin by framing the discussion with a brief overview of the election results, emphasizing the importance of understanding both the immediate outcomes and the broader implications. Ensure the framing is neutral and factual to set a tone of objective analysis.
• Guided Questions: Prepare a series of guided questions to help students explore different aspects of the election outcomes. Questions might include:
  • “What are the key takeaways from this election?”
  • “How might these results impact policy in the short and long term?”
  • “What can we learn about the electorate’s priorities from these results?”
• Breakout Discussions: Divide students into small groups to discuss specific aspects of the election. Each group could focus on a different theme, such as economic policy, social issues, or international relations, and then share their discussions with the larger class.
• Resource Sharing: Provide students with a curated list of resources, such as articles, policy analysis papers, and expert commentary, to help them understand the implications of the election results. Encourage them to refer to these resources during their discussions.
• Guest Speakers: Invite experts, such as political scientists, journalists, or policymakers, to give talks or join discussions. Their insights can provide depth to the students’ understanding and offer diverse perspectives.
• Reflection Papers: Assign students to write reflection papers where they articulate their thoughts on the election results and explore potential implications for the future. This exercise helps them process their thoughts critically and personally.
• Follow-up Discussions: Schedule follow-up sessions to revisit the discussion after students have had more time to reflect and more information about the implications of the election has emerged. This can help deepen their understanding and allow them to evolve their viewpoints.