Teaching a generation of students during a politically divided time
By Maddie Gadbaw ‘21
Social studies teacher Peter Shulman is one of many teachers whose job it is to educate a generation of students about politicus during a time in America when politics is incredibly polarizing. Shulman shares what his teaching philosophy became after the events that followed the 2016 election.
The 2016 election helped show the major divides in American society. The two well-known slogans “I’m with Her” and “Make American Great Again” consumed the media as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump battled for the presidential seat. When the dust settled, Trump moved into the White House to begin his four years as President of the United States.
One of the most noticeable things that happened during President Trump’s term was the cracks that appeared between American people. Groups of people on either side of the political spectrum took to the streets.
For example, during the 2017 Women’s March, more than three million people around the world marched to protest women’s rights.
The years that followed the 2016 election proved to be some of the most politically charged times for the United States.
Catlin Gabel School (CGS) prides itself on being an independent school that nurtures the different points of view that their students bring to the table.
The CGS mission statement says that Catlin Gabel is, “A community of diverse learners with different perspectives and life experiences is essential for deep learning and real-world preparation… an environment in which students and adults are curious and supportive, and strive to recognize each person for their unique contributions.”
There are currently no guidelines for history teachers at CGS about teaching politics without showing personal bias, says Amanda Williams, Social Studies Department Chair at CGS.
Peter Shulman, a social studies teacher at CGS, shares his own philosophy when it comes to teaching politics.
“In some ways, I do think I have a pre-2016 and a post-2016 reality about this,” Shulman says.
The New York Times reports that 2016 was a major election because it showed how far right and left both parties had become. Many people thought that President Trump’s victory showed how much the traditional presidential campaign had changed, and people fought to introduce new legislation to protect presidential abuse of power.
Shulman recognizes his responsibility to teach students about their government during these political changes.
“I’ve always tried to lay out the facts as best as I can, and also to invite students to realize not everybody agrees with me or what my take is on something,” says Shulman.
At the same time, with a post-2016 election government, Shulman feels it is important to take a stronger stance when educating students about our current political situation.
Outside of the CGS community, teachers express their feelings towards expressing political bias in the classroom. In an article by Huffington Post, David Cutler shares his opinion.
“Instead of ‘appearing neutral’... let’s admit our biases openly,” says Cutler. “Let’s express them... all in the spirit of encouraging our students to examine their own beliefs, scrutinize their own biases, and thereby move to higher levels of understanding.”
He continues to say that an expression of political beliefs does not mean that teachers should protest for political policies in classrooms. Instead, teachers should be able to express their beliefs in a classroom discussion.
“Whether I decide to share or withhold my personal views about anything, my main concern should be with establishing a productive learning environment with students,” says Cutler.
Personally, Shulman expresses his fears, shared by many Americans, that Trump’s campaign and time as president threatened the way American government has worked in the past. He also highlights Trump’s outspoken nature about minority groups, such as Mexican immigrants, during his campaign.
“I’ve had my disagreements with every president,” Shulman says, “but when I teach about them, I present the arguments for and against them. I don’t believe I can responsibly do this on every issue with Trump.”
Social studies teachers, such as Shulman and Williams, have been given the great responsibility to educate students about the government that they will one day vote and participate in. With Trump’s election, Shulman believes he has been put in a position where he cannot be bipartisan.
Shulman’s classroom is a welcoming environment where students actively engage in topics from every time period in American history. He has chosen to share his opinion against Trump in the classroom, which is a reflection of how part of the country feels, but not the whole. In doing so, Shulamn is certainly doing his part to educate the next generation of voters in his classroom.