Political discussions are almost inevitable to bear witness to, especially in the status quo. On the news, social media, in history class, or through friends and family, staunch opinions are everywhere. This poses the question of whether or not students should be permitted to showcase these opinions, or if they should even form them. High school students, especially underclassmen, are often viewed by adults as too young to be aware of current events, let alone educated on them. This thought process is placing limitations on the next generations of voters and future of America.
Many students have formed their own political views, but fear saying anything in a public setting, especially at school. This is often due to fear of judgment by parents, peers, or even teachers. Politics in school is typically frowned upon, but some students disagree and believe that there is a place for political conversations in the school system. Should school be a place to learn about other political views and discuss your own? Dominic Brown, junior at Wheeling Park High School, thinks so.
“There should be multiple clubs here at Park that have different political views. It helps create a more diverse environment,” said Brown.
Junior, Siyan Lopez feels similarly to Brown, but believes there should be more restrictions on where and when these topics should be discussed.
“There should be a line on how much you say. The communities that you affect should be thought of before you voice certain thoughts,” said Lopez.
Politics and the government can be heavy topics for the teenage mind, but many students begin to form their own political opinions as they reach high school. While many have views that mirror their parents’, others tend to interpret policy differently. This is often seen as a problem by teenagers’ parents, because they believe that their child should follow in their footsteps.
“Everyone eventually develops their own passions and interests over time when it comes to politics, whether it ends up aligning with their parents or not,” said Mr. Stanton, Wheeling Park High School civics teacher.
By teaching a government class, Mr. Stanton educates seniors on the domestic events happening around them, as well as the political and governmental history of the United States.
“I don’t think my class influences political views in any way. My goal is to raise awareness about what’s going on in politics and to teach students the role of what being a political scientist is all about. I enjoy wearing both hats of the political spectrum while teaching,” said Stanton.
The consensus is that as long as students can stay respectful while doing so, they can and should communicate their political views as they please. When students are able to respectfully debate their peers, the concept of politics becomes less taboo and much more approachable.
“It would definitely create a much better political climate than what we have,” said Brown.
The diversity of political views throughout Wheeling Park High School doesn’t have to be negative. When discussed respectfully, there is much to learn from those with differing political views.
