{"id":13402,"date":"2019-03-19T12:24:34","date_gmt":"2019-03-19T19:24:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/educatorinnovator.org\/?p=13402"},"modified":"2019-03-19T12:25:02","modified_gmt":"2019-03-19T19:25:02","slug":"talking-across-political-differences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/educatorinnovator.org\/talking-across-political-differences\/","title":{"rendered":"Talking Across Political Differences"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cPart of our job is to teach young people how to talk with one another, especially with people who have differing views.\u201d<\/em> —Diana Hess<\/p>\n

What does it mean to carry out these jobs, and, in particular, what does it mean in today\u2019s complex political climate?<\/p>\n

Today we are more divided along ideological lines than at any point in in the last two decades (Pew, 2017<\/a>). And the contentious, ineffective discussions amongst politicians are mirrored in our classrooms. A 2017 study found that more than 20% of teachers reported heightened polarization on campus and incivility in their classrooms. For example, a social studies teacher in North Carolina noted: \u201cIn my seventeen years I have never seen anger this blatant and raw over a political candidate or issue\u201d (Rogers et al., 2017<\/a>).<\/p>\n

These tensions illustrate why we should consider the role of discussion in our classrooms as a necessary tool for building democratic participation. They can provide the supportive environment necessary for youth to engage in discussion of complex and controversial issues. In discussions that aim to practice democratic skills, students learn how to consider diverse perspectives in forming their own, weigh evidence, listen to and communicate opinions and arguments, and deliberate to build consensus. And because students are often exposed to more diverse political backgrounds and lived experiences in school than in any other setting, classrooms are the ideal place to learn to talk across differences.<\/p>\n

Researchers\u00a0Diana Hess and Paula McAvoy<\/a>\u00a0found that when students engaged in high-quality discussion they enjoyed their classes more, were interested in what their peers had to say, deepened their understanding of issues, and didn\u2019t demonize difference.<\/p>\n

So what can this look like in the classroom? Watch these three new videos from Chicago Public Schools to find out more.<\/p>\n

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The Importance of High Quality Discussions<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Discussion is key to our democracy! Learn why and how schools and teachers should help students have civic and political discussions with people who have different opinions from their own. In this video you will hear from district leaders, teachers, students, and leading researchers.<\/p>\n