Dear Students,
I am of the profound belief that as your teacher, I must
remove my own beliefs from how I present politics in the classroom. You are at a time in your life where you are
at or near voting age, starting to figure out where you stand on the issues,
and the last thing I would want to do is influence your beliefs in any
way. Having a student vote like me because of me is an idea I abhor. I will always prefer a world where you
develop your own political ideas independently that stand opposite of mine than
believe what I do simply because I believe them.
So for the past several months, as I have encouraged students
to get engaged, watch the debates, attend candidate forums, make electoral map
predictions, I have done so with the intent of remaining politically
neutral. I hope I made good on that
promise.
But I feel that there is one message I have to get out
there. I have said this in all of my
classes today, but I want to share it digitally as well. In this day after the election – a historic, unprecedented,
divisive election – everyone needs to take a step back and attempt to
understand the real perspectives that are out there. Since 7:30 this morning, I have spent
basically every non instructional minute of my day talking to students who are
legitimately scared and worried about what the outcome of the race means for
them. I'm guessing few are surprised that most of these students are young women and/or minorities. This should not surprise you – a candidate that
was endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan and is being accused of sexual assault by
multiple people just became President of the United States. Please, if someone shares these concerns … don’t
argue with them. Their perspective is
their own, and valid, and they should feel safe to share it. I have heard well intended students today try
and argue with them about their fears – not out of being rude but in many cases
to try and reassure them (for example, I heard a student point out that Trump
disavowed David Duke and the KKK). That is not what these kids need right
now. If you really think their fears
about the status of women, members of the LGBTQ community, and minorities are
unfounded, keep that to yourself. You need to understand some of your peers feel
genuinely unsafe. And being a kind,
decent human being means that you are willing to be there for them and willing to
listen even if you aren’t necessarily on the same page. Telling them how they should think is the last thing to do at this point. Because even IF your point is true (to use
the earlier example, Trump has disavowed the support of white supremacists),
their point is EQUALLY true (that racists have used the Trump campaign as an
excuse to verbally and physically harass minorities).
I am sure that some will see this as an anti-Trump
post. Sorry, it’s not. If anything, this is post is anti-winner.
If the opposite situation came to pass and Clinton had defeated Trump,
and I had students coming to me panicked about some kind of repercussion, I
would do everything in my power to reassure them too and to encourage others to
reassure them. I think this message of
understanding and reassurance is important because above all else, even above
the content I teach, my number one concern is that my students feel safe and
supported. Some might read this and
claim I am overstretching my responsibilities as a teacher, but if you saw the genuine fear in the eyes of some of my
students today, you would not be maintaining that position. I would not be fit to be at the front of the classroom
if I didn’t do everything I could to reassure those kids today.
I felt compelled to post this because this election was
without a doubt an incredibly personal one, and so it has affected people in
deep, personal ways. What everyone can
do is try stop and try and figure out each other’s perspectives. Why did you see Clinton as a corrupt
Washington elite that needed to go, when your friend saw her as a strong
advocate for children’s rights that would help improve the conditions of the
working poor? Why did you see Trump as a
racist misogynist when someone else saw him as an anti-establishment candidate
that would help improve the conditions of the working poor?
If you are a Trump supporter, enjoy this stunning victory
that literally no one (not even the Trump campaign) predicted. It is historic – he is the 5th
President to win the office WITHOUT the most votes by virtue of winning the Electoral
College, and it will force pollsters to basically start from scratch in how
they try and measure public opinion. If
you are a Clinton supporter and upset – channel that energy into the 2018
midterm election. Get involved. Vote.
Make a difference. Everyone needs
to, because here’s one thing EVERYONE can be sad about: that less than 50% of
eligible voters actually voted in this election. You ALL need to make your voice heard. We will talk elections again in 2 years.
And remember, if you need someone to talk to, you’ve always
got someone willing to listen up in room 203.
-Mr. Royers
