Teachers' Forum:
How Do You Teach about the Election?

Teaching Seventh-Graders
How to Write an Essay
... on the Candidates

by Diane Maier

This year's presidential election is probably one of the most anticipated elections in recent years. After the fiasco that surrounded the last election people seem to be more interested than ever. This, combined with recent acts of terrorism and war, make this election the most important one in my memory. As social studies teachers we must address all of these issues and help our students develop opinions of their own.

I think that it is very important to teach our students about the election and help them develop their own opinions. As a seventh grade teacher this election fits right into my curriculum, but unfortunately because we teach chronologically we do not get up to the Constitution, where we normally teach about elections, until the second half of the year.

If it was up to me I would change the order in which I teach history and I would start with teaching the Constitution. That way we could discuss the election as we were actually learning how our government and the election process works. The curriculum would apply to real life for the students, most of whom are surprisingly opinionated and moved by the candidates. We are always struggling to relate the subject matter to the students' lives and now we have a way to do so.

For now I have figured out a way to both teach the election and follow my assigned curriculum. I am required to start the year by teaching the students how to write an essay. Most of the members of my department are doing so by incorporating the beginnings of their curriculum into the essay. For example, the other seventh grade teachers are teaching the students how to write an essay when they cover the geography chapter.

My plan is to begin teaching how to write an essay by brainstorming about the candidates and their positions on such things as domestic and foreign policy. After we brainstorm I can teach the students how to write an essay in which they will write about the more qualified candidate using supporting information. The follow-up assignment will be to create election posters and buttons supporting their candidate.

I am happy with this assignment but would like to do more, especially as the election grows closer. I will continue to discuss and debate the elections during our current events discussions, but I would love to have the students do more research and have actual debates as if they are the candidates themselves. Networks such as MTV produce specials that examine the candidates in ways that are relevant and easy to understand for students. These shows could easily be incorporated into lessons that would appeal to the students. Unfortunately, I may not have enough time to implement these ideas in my class.

One of the most controversial things about teaching on this election is whether or not the teacher should make his or her opinion known. I am strongly against any teacher expressing his or her opinion to the students. I think that we should always play devil's advocate. Most of my students get their opinions from their parents, and as I see it, my job to expose students to other ideas as well so that they have a range of resources available to them as they formulate their own opinions.

Students are very impressionable, especially in middle school, and I think that they should not be influenced in the development of their beliefs. Many of our students want to please us, and they will agree with whatever we say. So if I express my opinion many students will assume this as their own view in an attempt to make me happy and out of fear of disagreeing with me. The opposite is also true, many students may disagree with me just to defy me.

If students do either of these things then I am not doing my job. My job is to prepare students for life and I would be doing a disservice to them if I in any way influence their opinions. If I inform students of my opinion I am basically taking away their rights. I will be contributing to the brainwashing of my students, as is done in countries where students are taught not to question their government. I think that any teacher who makes their opinion known to their students should find another career because they are doing a huge injustice to their students.

Our students need to be informed of the issues at hand so that they can develop their own opinions and hopefully will be motivated to go out and vote when they are eligible.

Diane Maier teaches at Long Beach Middle School in New York.

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