Have conversations with school leadership and colleagues about the appropriateness of political conversations and the level of comfort teachers feel having conversations within your community.
What are the safest spaces in your school for authentic conversation? How can you create more?
How might your school provide norms for political conversations or guidelines for interactions with your students that are inclusive of multiple worldviews, ways of knowing, problem-solving, and communicating?
How might your school offer support and clarity regarding appropriate ways for you to express personal political views in your community?
Model Healthy and Authentic Political Engagement
In a politically charged time, disengaging may seem the most effective way to keep students safe and avoid inflaming political divides. However, consider that perceived disengagement may also lead to a sense among students that adults are unwilling to “meet them where they are” in their political thinking and concerns.
Disengagement may also be construed as silence or neutrality on critical issues or concerns to students. Practice acknowledging your students’ individual perspectives as part of a larger set of viewpoints on complex issues. Reinforce school or classroom rules and standards about kindness and respect. Acknowledge that you have a perspective on the topic in question, if you do, but you’re withholding your opinion because of power dynamics, your care for all students, and the like. Ensure that whatever stance you take protects and upholds the rights and dignity of students or groups that are minoritized and subjugated in political discussion.
While schools should always avoid being places of indoctrination, they also need to consider how to support teachers and administrators in modeling healthy and authentic political engagement for students.
As nonprofit organizations, independent schools cannot endorse candidates or parties, but discussing values and the civic process can help educators connect with students authentically. Educating students to become politically engaged adults who are able to discuss ideas with those whose perspectives differ can help shape the future of the nation.
Consider Marginalized Voices More Thoroughly
Always ask “who’s missing?” from every conversation.
Consider the use of affinity spaces to ensure the voices of students whose identities are marginalized or minoritized have spaces to be accepted or heard. Heads or senior leaders should consider holding “listening sessions” with these groups to better address their needs and ensure their safe participation in conversation on campus.
Examine the relationship between the perceived political orientation of your school and how comfortable community members feel expressing their views. Intentionally create space for views that fall outside of the political “norm” for your school.
Remember that marginalized voices also exist among the adults in a community. How might heads and senior leaders tend to these colleagues to ensure their sense of safe participation in conversation on campus?