Monday, October 3, 2016

A Unit

My exasperation over our current presidential campaigns has pretty much reached my limit of sanity. I'm not nearly as conflicted over my choice in November as others might be, but I'm just tired of the 24 hour-ness of it all and what is worse about the 24 hour-ness is that most of it is just intolerable and bat-sh!# crazy.  I think most feel the same way as I do, so I am not unique in that position.
What might be unique about my position is that I teach a full blown (5-6 weeks) government unit to my second graders in October.  I enjoy teaching that unit so much and the kids enjoy learning about our state and federal governments' interworkings...at a second grade level, of course.  The unit is brought out every year, but when it is a presidential election year, it is usually a blast.  The unit is closed out with a campaign, debates, and an election.
I say "usually" it is a blast because this year I have absolutely no desire to do it.  Teaching about what is supposed to happen seems so idealistic when what is happening across the board with our government AND the campaigns is asinine.  The kids have a hard enough time understanding the ins and outs of it all, heck, so do I if I'm being honest.  Trying to rationalize that with what is really happening will leave them mumbling to themselves.
On top of it all, I'm worried about how I will handle those other opinions.  In previous elections, it has been much easier to stay neutral, even with students with differing opinions.  The ideas and talking points that have come out this year are so hateful and so offensive to me (and aimed towards many of my students), my neutrality might get thrown right out the window.  The unit is supposed to start tomorrow.  I'm all ready for it, everything is prepared.  Whether or not I end up taking it on is another matter entirely.

8 comments:

  1. I don't envy you....Could you concentrate more on a local election then compare all elections off of that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, to a point, but our standard is state/federal. I can't skip it, but will have to do some adjusting to what I teach. It's gonna just have to be no frills so we don't get to into it...but that makes me sad.

      Delete
  2. You must stay neutral, as difficult as that might seem!

    Can you just keep it at basic Civics without getting into details? Or like the suggestion above, make the specifics local issues?

    Please tell your students it's not a mandatory 2-party system. There are third party candidates with good ideas! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, I always do...no liberal agenda indoctrination! ;)

      Delete
  3. I am trying to figure out how to teach this to my high school students, too. I might have them do some comparison activities between other elections and this one. Have them identify why this is an unusual election cycle. Grrr.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! I'd imagine with the older kids, who may already have formed strong opinions, it would be much harder. Mine are so limited in their understanding that they won't have expectations if I leave it out. Yours are different!

      Delete
  4. Oh dear god I forgot about that citizen building you go through. And it's gotten really nasty in other years when teachers take a tack differing from that of some parents. But this year given who you teach.
    But kids feel included at that age. They don't really understand exclusion in the way their parents would. But I see no reason why you don't include the history of the Irish in the USA. Particularly those that arrived to New England. How they banded together in every major city and took over the running of it in less than one generation, by using the Vote. Not ideal, but neither is a pillock making them a target.
    I'm not sure how prescribed the course is, so I don't know if you can insert the Irish bit.

    It is a worry isn't it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yah, it's US Government (Civics) and a smattering of the founding fathers' history to put the Constitution in perspective. I will say, 4th and 5th grade get into US History and the Irish (and others as well) immigration/contribution is definitely an area of focus, and continues to be throughout the US history schooling.
      I've never had parent issues with the unit, ever. Of course, my parents aren't terribly involved, respectful but not involved. However, I am very careful whenever discussing the election. I started the unit this week, but I don't know if I will do the election piece with them. I might just leave it out entirely.

      Delete