Teachers should be able to share their political views with their students.
According to the Hechinger Report by Charlotte West, studies show that teachers’ political ideas have minimal impact on students’ own political views.
Alyssa Dunn, an education professor at Michigan State said it’s not synonymous with indoctrination.
“You’re not requiring students to share your belief, you’re just sharing yours with them,” Dunn said.
When teachers share their political views, they encourage students to think critically.
Teachers can present different perspectives on a given political issue, prompting students to analyze and question viewpoints.
Education professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Wayne Journell did a study that revealed students are unconcerned with the political views of their teachers as long as they don’t feel pressured into adopting a particular viewpoint.
“They actually like knowing where their teachers stand,” Journell said.
Teachers can offer useful insights about the political environment, current affairs, and policy issues when expressing political stances. This provides students with the information they need to make wise decisions as future voters and contributing members of society.
According to the New York Times, students from around the world spoke their opinions on teachers being able to express their political views or not.
A student from the American School of Recife in Brazil, Maria Quidute, was part of this discussion.
“We often portray them as robots and not people who need and deserve their freedom of speech, which by law is obligatory,” Quidute said.
“Students should learn from a young age how to handle adversity and have conversations with those who do not share their opinions.”
Quidute also said growth comes from provocation and challenges.
“If we do not crave to listen to others and their beliefs, negligence and ignorance will flood our societies.
By so, we will perpetually remain the same,” Quite said.
Open political debates can also help students learn important life lessons, like empathy and respect for other viewpoints. Teachers can encourage students to actively participate in determining the direction of their communities and nation by sharing their political ideas with them and highlighting the value of civic engagement.
Teachers should be able to voice their opinion to enhance learning but not state them as a fact. Doing so may encourage critical thinking and help students become informed and active citizens.
