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What, exactly, are we teaching our kids? Having just started Sen. Ben Sasse’s new book on raising kids to be thoughtful citizens, this question has been on my mind. But seeing The Hill report that “nearly 100 eighth graders from New Jersey decided to sit out a group photo with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) during a class trip to Washington, D.C. on Friday” gave me serious pause. As in, really?I still remember my own eighth-grade trip to Washington. Growing up in New York, we all looked forward to that annual school trip. It was a big deal. Yuge. ...This brings me back to those eighth graders from New Jersey. The Hill quotes three students. The first said she didn’t want to be in a picture with Ryan because it would indicate agreement with his political beliefs. I don’t believe a big group photo suggests any sort of endorsement, so I don’t think that should have been an issue.The second reported opting out because of Ryan and President Trump’s many shared beliefs. I actually don’t see so many shared beliefs there, but wonder what this student had in mind. The third student, Alex Klint, commented, “I thought it would be interesting to see one of the nation’s lawmakers in person even if I strongly disagree with many of his views.” I can get on board with that.No one has to agree with Ryan, or any other member of Congress, for that matter. But what ever happened to basic manners? Lowey is a liberal Democrat. Beyond our shared support for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, I’m not sure that we agree on much of anything. That said, I can’t imagine having refused to pose in a group picture with her. That would have felt disgracefully rude. If I had had the opportunity to meet the speaker of the House that same day, I would have been thrilled to meet someone of historical importance, all politics aside.Let’s Consider the Parents’ Influence HereGiven the age of the kids in the Ryan brouhaha, I have a hard time believing this decision to “sit in a parking lot while their peers took part in the photo op” was their idea. Most 13- and 14-year-olds have neither read widely enough nor lived long enough to have fully formed, independent political views; they are more likely to parrot whatever they’ve learned from trusted adults. That’s why this behavior strikes me as not being about students standing up for their principles, as some people replied when I tweeted about this. Rather, it looks more like something that parents or teachers encouraged, either explicitly or implicitly. ...Democracy can’t function if we wall ourselves off, refusing to communicate or debate ideas. Engaged citizens must be able to think critically and articulate why one view is superior to another. ...A basic level of civility is necessary for society to function.As our politics become more polarized and vitriolic, we should remember that our children are watching us for clues about what to believe and how to behave. So again, let’s pause and consider: What are we teaching our children?
Appropriate to many situations, IMO.
