AS THE DUST SETTLES from the current election, highschool lecture rooms reveal an emotional panorama starting from resignation to hope. For a lot of of right this moment’s college students, political outcomes are now not simply classes in textbooks — they’re private, tangible, and infrequently unsettling.
Within the wake of the election, college students throughout grade ranges and younger individuals throughout the nation are grappling with what the outcomes imply for his or her futures and their values. Academics are tasked with creating area for considerate discussions whereas rigorously navigating the high quality line between neutrality and training, with many younger individuals participating in nuanced conversations. Collectively, these conversations supply a glimpse into how younger individuals really feel about politics, the nation, and their very own roles in shaping its future.
“We have an obligation as public figures in a public institution and a place of education, of being personally neutral,” stated Jade Paniagua, Acalanes Superior Placement (AP) Environmental Science instructor. “Because I hold a place of power in the classroom, and because we can be influential, our own personal opinions really don’t have space in the classroom.”
Many college students expressed combined feelings after the election, both feeling hopeful in some circumstances and dissatisfied in others, making a modified ambiance at faculties.
“I think the mood was down. A lot of people missed class, and I felt that a lot of people weren’t really excited to be at school that day,” Acalanes Senior Nick Owens stated.
Many academics felt the necessity to focus on the election, seemingly as a result of significance it posed, together with its potential impression on the content material that they train.
“I’ve been doing this for 20 years, so who knows how many presidents I’ve been through at this point teaching — you know, each administration has its own priorities, and that’s going to cause shifts in things that impact what I teach,” Paniagua stated. “I have to find a balance between making sure to respect political ideologies and moral compasses, while also educating factually and accurately about how different government policies, whether it be under different administrations or not, are going to impact the things we study.”
Separating insurance policies from politics
The age and maturity of scholars in particular lessons influenced many academics of their determination to debate the election and to what extent there have been open conversations about completely different insurance policies and politics.
“I approached it slightly differently in my freshman classes and my senior classes, because in the senior classes, we did talk quite a bit about the election. They had an election project, one that had taken up about six weeks, so they were familiar with campaigns,” AP Comparative Authorities and Freshman World Historical past instructor Joseph Schottland stated. “We talked about the aftermath and basically what happened in terms of complete control of both houses of Congress and now also, obviously, with the control of the Supreme Court. I tried to make sure that we did not go into viewpoints on policy issues — that I tried to steer away from.”
New York Occasions’ entrance pages of historic occasions cling in instructor Joseph Schottland’s AP Comparative Authorities and Freshman World Historical past classroom on Dec. 6, 2024, at Acalanes Excessive Faculty in Lafayette. (Molly Connelly/Bay Metropolis Information)
Some academics felt an obligation to debate the election, because it pertained on to the content material they train, one thing widespread in authorities, economics, historical past, and science lessons.
“Different administrations have different ideas about how federal lands should be managed. A lot of that has to do with things like fossil fuel extraction and mining, and how we manage our national forests and things like that. I think it’s important for students to know that there will be changes,” Paniagua stated.
Different academics merely held area to permit younger individuals to diffuse confusion or tough feelings they may be feeling. Some held discussions throughout class, whereas others had elective dialogues throughout research corridor durations.
“Part of what I wanted in the week of the election was, that as people were processing and responding and thinking, either positively or negatively, people to have a place where they could ask questions about any kind of shifts that we might expect,” Paniagua stated.
Even some younger individuals who weren’t sufficiently old to forged a poll or didn’t take part nonetheless felt the results of the election, both personally or of their bigger communities.
“I personally felt a little distraught and was worried about the future,” stated Acalanes Junior Aamena Shipchandler. “I didn’t vote in this election, but I will be able to vote in the next midterms, so I have been taking an active role in researching options and being informed with my own beliefs. I felt personally affected, even if I personally didn’t cast a ballot. I remember where I was and when I found out. It felt like a flashback from when I was eight years old in 2016.”
The impression of social media
Political views vary drastically amongst younger individuals, with some extra outspoken than others about their beliefs.
“There was some divide among students because some people stood out with their views. Other people took it really seriously, and that was valid because it was an emotional topic. I had emotional conversations with people the day after the election,” Acalanes Junior Piper Coy stated.
Social media proved related all through the election, as candidates for numerous places of work fought to have their voice heard by younger individuals, lots of whom devour a lot of their media that approach. And social media remained essential after the election, with many younger individuals sharing their reactions, optimistic or destructive, to election outcomes.
“For me, and a lot of other young people that are active on social media, it played a huge role in the aftermath of the election. Almost every celebrity I followed released something about a particular candidate, and people my age posted how they were feeling and re-posting different messages. I think I saw at least 50 Instagram stories about it from my peers,” Coy stated.
“I try not to judge someone based on their political affiliation, but I think this election was so polarizing that when I saw people voting for a side I didn’t support, I chose to unfollow them, especially if I found that content harmful or hateful.”
Aamena Shipchandler, Acalanes Excessive Faculty junior
Between politics on social media and emotional college students in school, some have been involved younger individuals would undergo severe division between each other as a result of differing viewpoints. Some selected to regulate whom they frolicked with as a product of political opinions, whereas others felt comfy conversing with others no matter beliefs.
“I try not to judge someone based on their political affiliation, but I think this election was so polarizing that when I saw people voting for a side I didn’t support, I chose to unfollow them, especially if I found that content harmful or hateful,” Shipchandler stated.
Schottland observed divides by gender, observing that feminine college students usually felt extra passionate concerning the election outcomes, particularly the presidency and what which means for them.
“From my perspective, in the AP class, the guys are fairly respectful of the diverse viewpoints, particularly those of women. And I think that they were conscious of the fact that a number of the women, particularly the more outspoken women, were hurt — visibly hurt,” Schottland stated.
Ardour offers option to resignation
Whereas comparisons to the 2016 election are widespread, given the identical presidential consequence, each Schottland and Paniagua observed that the temper amongst their younger college students felt drastically completely different. They felt that college students have been extra passionate in 2016, whereas a temper of resignation overtook in 2024.
“Discussions about the election would have just had to come up organically on their own, and that hasn’t happened. It did happen in 2016, and there were a couple of days that there really was a lot of conflict and tension between students, but not this year” Paniagua stated.
“It’s much more of a resignation, meaning being resigned to the fact that (Donald Trump) was going to be president, whereas in 2016 people were genuinely, emotionally upset — frustrated that they didn’t have an outlet for that,” Schottland stated.
With that in thoughts, many marvel if younger individuals could also be disheartened about politics as a complete if the election went in a unique course than they hoped — or if they are going to be extra impressed than ever to have interaction with politics.
“I think it made me want to be more politically active. I believe that the candidates we have aren’t always as good as they should be, and it inspired me to want to change that in the future” Owens stated.
A courtyard the place college students collect exterior of lessons on the Acalanes Excessive Faculty campus in Lafayette sits empty on Dec. 6, 2024. Authorities academics have observed a unique temper on campus following the current election cycle in contrast with 2016, with their younger college students right this moment usually expressing resignation slightly than ardour about politics. (Molly Connelly/Bay Metropolis Information)
With some seeking to have interaction, maybe for the primary time of their younger lives, the problem instantly confronting them could also be tips on how to begin, together with tips on how to inform themselves about political points and nuanced topics.
“I think how we inform ourselves is one of the biggest challenges for us in the United States and globally, but here especially. We get our information from different places, and so different people have very different views of what our country is because they have different ideas in their minds” Paniagua stated.
After the election, many college students are left grappling with emotions of uncertainty and frustration concerning the future. Within the midst of those feelings, new ardour typically ensues, pushing many to take an lively position in politics as they step into their grownup life, being guided by older individuals of their lives.
“I think you just keep on doing what you think is right. I think you keep on trying to learn and have empathy and understanding and kindness. I think for people who feel helpless, focusing on local is really important. We can do things in our local communities, and we can be impactful,” Paniagua stated.
