Classroom Temperature Check: One Week till Election

[smccormack]

How is everyone feeling as we approach the Presidential Election? Are your students talking about the candidates or the information that is flooding their social media feeds?

My students have been noticeably quiet over the last few weeks. I think many of us are in a state of pre-election fatigue: overwhelmed by information, inundated with requests for donations, tiring of campaign advertisements. No doubt for some of my students there is a growing sense of concern for the election's outcome. Teaching at a Hispanic Serving Institution provides me with the opportunity to regularly interact with students whose familial origins stem from all parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. The increasingly anti-immigrant rhetoric that has been a hallmark of this election cycle is undoubtedly contributing to a sense of fear and uncertainty in the minds of some of my students. 

This week I'm offering students a safe environment to express their pre-election concerns. I've tried to make our history classroom a space for open conversation, even about uncomfortable topics. As we enter these final days of the 2024 campaign I hope my students will offer their insights about the current state of political affairs so that I -- a Gen X'er -- can have a better understanding of how today's generation of college students are responding to the never-ending political rhetoric. I'm hopeful that our conversations about historical context are helping the students to better understand events as they unfold around them. 

And, finally, a call for conversation -- I'm particularly interested in hearing from history teachers about how/if they will address the Trump Madison Square Garden rally in class this week. Thoughts? Share here in the comments or email me at suzannekmccormack@gmail.com