Every year we hear the same old things in the news cycle about Election Day. The never-ending reminders from everyone around you to get out and vote, and people talking about how historical this election will be.
After the election, things are even more chaotic as people discuss the ramifications of the election. There are the same arguments over who won and who voted for who that there is every year. Following the presidential elections, there is only one thing that everyone can agree on, tensions are sky-high.
However, those tensions are not something that belongs in school. We would like to take a moment to remind everyone that regardless of who we voted for or who we believed should have won, we are all here in this building for one reason and one reason alone, to learn.
Discussions of politics are, of course, unavoidable. A large part of our education here in high school is to prepare us with the tools to engage in those discussions. All of those classes teaching us how to cite our sources and how to seek out multiple places of information and examine the bias within them is not without purpose.
Despite that, these conversations are best had outside of school. Politics are not something to be looked at as something trivial. Every person’s political views are the result of an entire life’s worth of experiences that no one but them knows. There is a reason why politics are often so messy.
Outside of teacher-led discussions, school grounds are not a place for political arguments. Politics are always going to be a controversial issue, but nothing comes out of arguing.
We do not always know the stories of a person’s life that brought them to hold those opinions that to us may seem like outrageous, dangerous beliefs. That is why it is important to not simply disregard someone because you do not agree with them. It is impossible to ever know the life events that may have led someone to the place that they are now.
While schools are not the place for such discussions, they are extremely important conversations that need to happen with care and respect for everyone’s unique perspective and views on life.
Remember to be respectful of everyone regardless of their party affiliations or opinions and that schools are intended as a place of education, not politics. There are public forums available for these types of discussions, however, the school is not one of those forums.
One’s world views or perspectives do not make them deserving of hate or harassment. As Lancers we must always treat our fellow students with kindness and respect. Political views or one’s candidate of choice are not an excuse to engage in bullying, physical and verbal fights, or vandalism.
We understand that tensions rising naturally, as they always do preceding a presidential election, can be scary. If you need someone to talk to or if you feel unsafe, please speak with a guidance counselor or another trusted adult in your life.
