I have thought about what I will say when kids ask me how I vote. Here is my response as it sits today:

“What I think does not matter. You don’t need me to tell you how to vote or what to think. What really matters is what you think. More importantly, why do you think the way you do? Think for yourself and you will be a successful adult.”

Is that a big cop-out? I don’t think so, but one might make the argument. Coming from a constructivist educational philosophy I promote students constructing their own knowledge rather than gaining it from what I tell them. K-12 students are in the process of discovering what they really think and really believe. They are still under the thumb of their parents and it takes time to make up their own minds.

I think it’s okay to tell kids that we are not going to tell them what to think. We can ask more questions and get them to think more.

If I were going to talk politics in a classroom, I would want that classroom to be one where such a topic is relevant and related to curriculum. It’s not really appropriate to talk politics in a math class.

I would consider using:

The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation written by Jonathan Hennessey and illustrated by Aaron McConnell.

The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon.

Let students really learn about our Constitution and how the government plays a role in our lives. Talk about great discussion in a Social Studies class. It’s relevant and the literature used is contemporary and accessible (and interesting) to the 21st century student.

Many, many teachers here not only don’t have a problem with politicising other people’s children, they regard it as their professional mission whatever subject they are actually paid to teach.

Ironically, having left the profession a decade ago for business, only this week I found myself approached by a new, young political party in the UK, who asked me to advise them on their education policy. I did, on the condition that they do not ascribe anything I say back to me, and that they don’t make the mistake of reading into the advice I give…my own political beliefs.

I don’t think it’s always appropriate for all people (Ryan and I were just chatting about the volume of social media and private-info.-made-public), and I personally want to be open about most things, but if I were a teacher or in a similar position I would take the same stance you have. Challenging them to think for themselves, rather than encouraging them to buy into your position-of-authority-views is the absolute best thing you can do as a teacher.