Table of Contents
Is it illegal for a teacher to talk about politics to students?
Legally, teachers have the right to talk about politics or other controversial topics on social media, and many do. Teachers say they don’t want to be restricted from sharing their opinions, and some say that teaching itself is inherently political.
Can schools ban political speech?
In 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier that public school officials can censor school-sponsored student expression as long as they have a valid educational reason for doing so. This decision has given school officials broad authority to regulate school-sponsored publications.
Should teachers be allowed to discuss politics in the classroom?
According to Hardis, although there is a place for political discussion within the classroom, expressing views based on partisan opinion is prohibited. “Although teachers shouldn’t be allowed to express their personal views, they may present both sides as part of a lesson,” said Hardis.
Should schools be political without being partisan?
It’s important to note that schools can be political without being partisan. Pushing partisan politics is a huge overstretch of power and, quite legitimately, does not belong in classrooms. Schools need to prepare students for political engagement in a nonpartisan way, even though the “real world” of politics is increasingly partisan and polarized.
Should teachers be allowed to talk about their opinions in class?
Teachers have a full understanding of how they teach, and if they think that sharing their opinion is harmful to a class conversation, they absolutely should feel free to leave their views at home. If they feel they can challenge students in a way that benefits them, they should feel free to do that, too.
What is political teaching and why is it important?
Political, as I define it, has to do with the role of being a participatory citizen in a democracy. This happens when we make democratic decisions about how we should live together. We see this sort of political teaching in classrooms when class rules are made together, as well as when students are asked to research and discuss current events.