Who’s we – the parents? Except for 18 yr olds – school kids don’t have the right to vote – and it’s really none of the teachers business whether they vote or not –

But how about the study of rhetoric in a language class? Whether analyzing the words of a Republican President trying to convince the country to go to war or a Democrat mayor trying to convince his constituents to let him take over blah, blah, blah

Again – since on way too many occasions teachers have proven themselves totally incapable of using judgement and discretion I’ll stick with the educate and not indoctrinate.

Every kid in the school would know what was going on by the end of the day.

When the color is associated with a specific liberal political candidate, yes, it does. If it was simply “Election Blue Day” we would not have this post to comment on.

Maybe in Virginia. Here in L.A. it means you’re a Crip and can make you a target in certain neighborhoods.

Apparently, students are attuned to special color-based subliminal messages

Color-based messages, oh yeah. Subliminal? Not so much.

That’s really not the purpose or responsibility of the school and certainly has no place outside of civics class. Educate – not indoctrinate.

I certainly agree with educating and not indoctrinating — which should be clear from my comment.

As for the responsibilities of education, shouldn’t we teach children their role in a democracy? And isn’t that role to vote as informed citizens? I suppose one can teach about that role without encouraging students to actually live up to the expectation.

Is that what you mean?

As for “no place outside of civics class,” a fair enough point. But how about the study of rhetoric in a language class? Whether analyzing the words of a Republican President trying to convince the country to go to war or a Democrat mayor trying to convince his constituents to let him take over the school system, examining those words is an authentic way to improve reading comprehension, the understanding of how to write, and the critical eye essential to being an informed citizen.

Is the next step going to be to require people to report how they voted?

Considering that the union leaders of the world are agitating to use the power of the federal government to do something close to this, I would urge you not to give them any ideas.

One reason that students don’t demonstrate self-discipline is that teachers fail to exercise self-discipline. No one, especially students, should know anything about a teacher’s political beliefs. As a professor, it is my job to facilitate a discussion that acknowledges both sides of an issue. Once a student knows my position on an issue, then everything that I say about that issue is filtered through that lens.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Perfect response, Allen. One reason that students don’t demonstrate self-discipline is that teachers fail to exercise self-discipline. No one, especially students, should know anything about a teacher’s political beliefs. As a professor, it is my job to facilitate a discussion that acknowledges both sides of an issue. Once a student knows my position on an issue, then everything that I say about that issue is filtered through that lens.