PROMOTING
POLITICAL LITER ACY
T H R O U G H D I A L O G U E
BY S E A N F OR EM A N , HI S T OR Y DEPA R T MEN T
TALKING ABOUT POLITICS CAN BE DIFFICULT.
TEACHING HISTORY AND CIVICS IS CHALLENGING
THESE DAYS. YET DISCUSSING POLITICAL ISSUES
AND PROMOTING POLITICAL LITERACY WITH
OUR PEERS, OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR CHILDREN
IS AS ESSENTIAL NOW THAN EVER.
While the tendency of some may be to shy away from
tough conversations, there are times when it is important to
engage and to help educate–or be willing to be educated–
about the many complex and fascinating political issues
we face today.
Just like talking about government, politics, or law can be
challenging in public, it can be just as hard in private. It
can be tough to talk with your children about critical and
controversial issues in our hyper-sensitized social media
world. But it is important that we do it–for many reasons–
and that we do it well. It doesn't take an expert to facilitate
discussions on historical and political topics, but it helps
to be armed with tips and tools for facilitating dialogue
and understanding.
As a former student told me recently, it is our civic duty
to stay informed and to do the necessary research instead
of believing the first headline you read. The phenomena
of disinformation and misinformation are particularly
problematic when most people, not just younger people,
rely on social media for their news and information. There
is bias in every media source and even more so in social
media posts.
Having a participatory democracy means that people must
participate. We all have roles to play even if it is as basic as
being civil in our discussion and respectful in our dealings
with others.
TALK WITH YOUR
CHILDREN ABOUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THE NEWS
AND IN THE WORLD.
SHOW RESPECT IN
YOUR DISCUSSIONS.
EXPOSE THEM
TO DIFFERENT IDEAS
AND PERSPECTIVES.
ALLOW PEOPLE
TO SPEAK.
BE CIVIL. DON'T CALL PEOPLE
BY NEGATIVE NAMES OR
USE UNNECESSARY CRUEL
OR CRUDE LANGUAGE.
BE SURE
TO LISTEN.
SO, WHAT C AN WE DO TO PROMOTE MORE OPEN AND PRODUC TIVE C ONVERS ATIONS ?
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