One issue
surrounding the 2016 presidential election has been the effect a candidate’s
platform and behavior can have in areas outside of politics. More than ever
before, classrooms across the country are seeing the campaign come home as
increased bullying, confusion, and fear permeate education. The effect is
noticeable. During the second debate the first question asked of the candidates
was whether they felt they were “modeling
appropriate and positive behavior for today’s youth?” [1] In the same debate, Secretary Clinton mentioned a phenomenon sweeping our nation’s schools,
“You know, children listen to what is being said,” she said. “And there’s a lot
of fear — in fact, teachers and parents are calling it The Trump Effect.”
The recent report The Trump Effect: The impact of the
presidential campaign on our nation’s schools published by the Southern
Poverty Law Center discusses the impact of the presidential campaign on our
nation’s schools. It documents the “Trump Effect” in schools as heightened fear and anxiety in
students accompanied by harassment and bullying. Teachers report being hesitant
of bringing up the election to students who are afraid of the changes they see
looming after the elections are finalized. According to one of the interviewed
teachers from a Virginia school “My second-graders are scared. They’re scared
of being sent back to their home countries. They’re scared of losing their
education.” Also, teachers notice that their students adopt the hate speech and
bullying tactics they see on television. “Teachers report that students have
been ‘emboldened’ to use slurs, engage in name-calling and make inflammatory
statements toward each other. When confronted, students point to the candidates
and claim they are ‘just saying what everyone is thinking.’” It is clear that
teachers face a difficult decision. If teachers discuss the election they face
the obstacle of students who are terrified of this discussion, or passionate to
the point of derailing a whole class at the mention of the election.
Long before the second
debate many could feel the effects of this presidential election in the
classroom. According to
the report, “In response to the statement ‘I am hesitant to teach about the
2016 presidential election,’ 43 percent of K-12 educators answered ‘yes.’” In
anecdotal responses to similar questions one teacher reports “I try to not
bring it up since it is so stressful for my students.” Teachers affected by the
Trump Effect feel the need to teach traditional civics lessons but are hesitant
to use the current election because of the fear experienced by their students
and because many believe the candidates themselves fail to embody the civic
values they hope to teach.
As The Trump Effect states, “Preparing students for citizenship
continues to be one of the three broad goals that all sides have agreed must be
the purpose of schools: college, career and citizenship.”[2] As such, many teachers
have traditionally assigned viewing the debates to teach their students about
government and civic duty. However, the article raises questions of how to
teach an ideal of citizenship when those who should embody that ideal fall
short of the mark. It concludes with one teacher expressing concerns for the
future of politics saying of their students “I hope they don’t walk away
thinking this is what politics is all about.”
The study detailed in this report
was not scientific. Researchers surveyed approximately 2,000 k-12
teachers and received 5,000 comments in response to the questions posed.[3]
All participants of this study chose to participate.
The results show a disturbing nationwide problem highlighted in the report as
the following:
• More than
two-thirds of the teachers reported that
students—mainly
immigrants, children of immigrants
and Muslims—have
expressed concerns or
fears about what
might happen to them or their families
after the election.
• More than half have
seen an increase in uncivil political
discourse.
• More than one-third
have observed an increase in
anti-Muslim or
anti-immigrant sentiment.
• More than 40
percent are hesitant to teach about
the election.[4]
Participants responded to open ended questions where they
could provide free responses and were asked if they agreed or disagreed with a
number of statements. The list of questions can be found in the report at: https://www.splcenter.org/20160413/trump-effect-impact-presidential-campaign-our-nations-schools
