Do you think it is OK for teachers to use the classroom as a political platform?

Question

I am a college student in a relatively liberal city, and through the years I've encountered several teachers who use their position in the classroom as a platform to spew their political beliefs. As a prospective teacher, I've always found this behavior very unprofessional. I am a pretty liberal person, but I just find it so rude (and a little offensive) when my teacher babbles about 9/11 conspiracies and government corruption. See, it's one thing to express your opinion--it's another thing to assert it as the truth and assume others will agree with you.

In another instance, I had a teacher in high school who spent nearly an entire class period ranting about his opposition to gay marriage. To me, that was downright ignorant because there could have been lgbt students in that class who were offended but too afraid to speak up because of his authority.

Is this appropriate behavior in a classroom setting? If so,
where do you draw the line between debate and diatribe?

Answer 1

no. as a high school teacher and a very political person, i'm telling you it is not okay. it's extremely unprofessional to use your position of power in the classroom to influence students politically. when you stand in front of a group of students, you are the expert by default and it's your responsibility to use that power to teach, not bash people you disagree with or brainwash people who respect you.
in my room, i do the following things:
whenever a politically loaded issue comes up, i step out of the spotlight and let the kids direct the conversation. if i feel one side of the issue has more support, i play the devil's advocate, regardless of my personal stance.
i ask questions -- lots of them -- from both sides of every issue. i would rather have students think for themselves than nod their heads at whatever i say.
because i'm an english teacher, i'm often privy to very personal issues students deal with. if i know an issue is of particular sensitivity to a student in my room (homosexuality is a good example), i avoid it all together. this is partly to protect that student's feelings and partly to protect other students from an embarrassing foot-in-mouth moment. more widespread issues (racism is one we deal with in my school a lot) we discuss with as much good humor and diplomacy as possible. again, i always ask far more than i tell and i encourage the kids to state their opinions maturely, without lapsing into bashing or diatribes.

Answer 2

I totally disagree with teachers spreading their political theory to students. I do not have a problem with a teacher debating, theorizing, and teaching about politics as long as it is balanced. Politics is a very personal, highly charged area that can deeply upset some individuals. I have had teachers attack students because of their political beliefs that's not ok under any circumstance. I don't want anyone to think that I don't agree with politics being taught. I love it when elementary schools have the mock elections and that stuff. I just hate it when teachers put such a slant on a side, issue, or belief. I had serious problems with a professor in College who would only promote their belief and not allow others to talk. This was an International Relations Course, its all about different positions. In addition, to viewing the world blatantly one way he took it several steps further. He would even grade individuals who disagreed with him lower. In my opinion (and others) this is way too much: their were complaints made and an investigation. I just think that there are good and bad ways to discuss politics.

Answer 3

Welcome to the wonderful world of academia. I too have had to suffer through classes where the truly mindless idiots with lofty degrees ranted about subjects of which they knew little to nothing -- mostly politics and occasionally reverse racism. Sorry, racism is just that, regardless of the direction.
It IS very unprofessional. In any other field of employment, it would be considered unethical. But in teaching, it is considered correct to bash a conservative administration. And because your GPA and overall class standings are graded quite heavily on class room participation. Guess what. You will lose. I know I did.

Answer 4

I had an college economics teacher like that. And he wasn't even liberal or conservative. He had bad stuff to say about everybody.

One time, he said something like this...
"Now let's say you wanted to sell coke. I don't mean the kind of coke that George W. Bush was snorting, while was in the Texas National Guard, avoiding fighting for his country in Vietnam. Not that kind of coke. I mean Coca-Cola."

No, I don't think it is appropriate. But it did make the class more interesting.

Answer 5

Absolutely not !...in no way should Politics or Religion or personal beliefs be brought into a class room.

When my son was a senior in HS a teacher tried to force him to read writings and write an Essay about a certain author that was very racist. My son refused and I was asked to come in. I stood by my son and told the school board that it was wrong to force him to believe in what they believe in.
He did not have to write an essay on that certain author but he did have to write one which was the point I was trying to make.

In college a teacher tried to make me "understand" why prostitution should be legal in all states. She got very angry at me for not seeing things her way. I failed that class and shouldn't have.

NO its not appropriate behavior. Its wrong. And a teacher should be reported for doing it.

Answer 6

No, IMO, it is not OK to rant about your own personal opinions and political agendas. I am paid to teach he curriculum, standards, and proficiencies. Now there are times when a planned lesson takes on its own direction and the topic goes elsewhere from the original objective. But at least for me personally, it has never lead to any political platform.

Answer 7

I am an HS teacher and I think it is an abuse of the position and authority, and an issue on many levels.
I starts with disrespect for your students... how else can you even begin to think that your opinions are more important than theirs, or with being objective?
But it is so common - I think it merits serious consequences.

Answer 8

No, they are TEACHING YOU

And it is OBVIOUSLY WORKING as you are REACTING.

When I first came to Los Angeles there was a public hearing on this woman teacher at UCLA who was a COMMUNIST and it about letting her continue to teach and I felt they should.

I mean COLLEGE is about exposure to different things.

High school is different

But COLLEGE is about exposure to different things.

Mao, Nader, Bush, Clinton, Kennedy, Gore, Kissenger will EACH give you a DIFFERENT view of Current Affairs and CIVICS.

The IDEA behind COLLEGE is EXPOSURE to different views that are contrary to yours

COLLEGE is supposed to WIDEN your horizons in UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES

I HATE communism, but I'd LOVE to take a course taught by Mao, if he were still alive.

I'd disagree with him verbally all the time, but I'd love to experience his views.

It WOULD expand mine.

I dislike Bush and his war in Iraq, but I'd LOVE to hear his TOTALLY CANDID VIEWS

Those recordings of him and Blaire were fanstastic.

What I don't want to hear for BUSH is HIS canned views.

I want him to open up and tell it like it is.

Even if I don't agree with him.

COLLEGE is about challening your views in an effort to expand your mind.

This is why COLLEGE subjects you to things.

In ENGLISH they teach you about RHETORIC

In Poly Science they EXPOSE YOU to Rhetoric.

College is TRYING to teach you how to DEAL with all the BS and make some sense out of it by teaching you how to THINK.

Answer 9

i dont think it is ok...but also, at least in a public school setting, a teacher could get fired for it.