GannonFan wrote:My wife teaches elementary school at a suburban school outside of Philadelphia. Here's excerpts from the "Inauguration Information Points" e-mail that was sent out to the professional staff in advance of showing the inauguration during school on Friday. They haven't come out with the e-mail yet describing the comfort rooms with the video of puppies playing on a continual loop yet but I'll let you know if there is one.
• As educators, continue to be mindful about keeping your own opinions and biases out of the classroom. When necessary, correct the record to clarify misconceptions, share differing perspectives and help build tolerance for diverse ideas and people. Our students will be experiencing a wide range of emotions and your ability to remain neutral and steady during the proceedings can be a source of calm for all students.
• Should classroom disruptions occur, either for or against the president-elect, treat them like any other classroom disruption and address them appropriately. If there is a student who is creating a substantial disruption to the students’ ability to watch the ceremony, please have them report to the office. Emphasize to students that we understand all students have their own political beliefs and to be respectful of the beliefs of others.
• If a student is visibly upset and you feel there is an immediate concern, please send the student to see their counselor. Please email a guidance counselor if you have a concern that is not urgent but believe should be followed up on.
• If a student approaches you and asks a question such as “Are my friends going to be deported?” “I don’t know if I can feel safe in my country.” “How could this happen?” Here are some ideas of how you could respond depending on the situation:
· A new president has been elected in a democratic republic. We have a system of checks and balances and there are people at all levels of government who work for us and our best interests. In order to make anything happen, the president has to work with other people. One person cannot change everything overnight.
· Think about how you can make a positive impact on people and groups you feel may be affected by the change in leadership. We have groups right here at ***** like the ADL that you can join and take action.
· As a high school student and voter in the next election you have a voice. Write to your representative and make your voice heard. Be engaged in the process.
· Challenge yourself to hear all sides, understand differing points of view and find common ground with those who you may disagree with. You have to be able to understand all perspectives to be able to effectively communicate about issues.
We need to quit encouraging the victim complex. From FB feed...An EWU prof cancelled class Friday. Good on this kid...
Sent a letter to the President here at EWU. Kinda fed-up with the political hostilities here on campus. Hopefully they will consider doing SOMETHING...
"My English teacher,(name deleted), just informed me this morning that we will not have class on Friday. This is because she's staging what she calls a "walkout protest" against President-Elect Donald Trump. I hold all faculty to the highest standard at EWU and this type of behavior is not only childish, but extremely embarrassing as well. I thought here at Eastern I'd know my education would be secure round-the-clock regardless of political climate. This is disheartening and disappointing knowing that I cannot expect my education to come first, knowing that EWU faculty would rather let their political agendas and biases get in the way of an education that I, and many others, struggle to pay for. Regardless of what she thinks she'll accomplish by throwing this glorified temper tantrum, the outcome of the election will not change, and all that will have happened is a nice day-off for her while the students suffer academically for it. I sincerely hope that this sort of behavior does not become standard for teachers and professors here at EWU, because paying students deserve to have a sense of not only security, but priority as well when it comes to their education.
I hope you take the time to consider what I've said here and I implore you to ask your teachers and professors to schedule their political protests in a manner that does not disturb the learning environment here at Eastern.
Thank you."