A thread about teaching college during the Trump presidency:
Politics and social issues are present in every humanities classroom, regardless of whether or not they're named and/or part of the syllabus.
Politics and social issues are present in every humanities classroom, regardless of whether or not they're named and/or part of the syllabus.
I teach in a conservative environment and have no hesitations about being seen as a more liberal face on campus. I think it's my responsibility to make sure progressive students know they're supported on campus, even if most of their peers are conservative.
I think making students feel alienated creates a good learning environment, so I want LGBTQ+ students, students of color, progressive students, etc. to feel invited into my classroom, especially bc they might not feel welcome everyone else on campus.
My primary goal of helping students learn to THINK and COMMUNICATE applies to all of them. I don't want to alienate conservative students, either, or create an adversarial relationship between us. Because I don't think students learn from adversaries very often.
So in the classroom, I cultivate a very inclusive environment, and I try to use texts and source material where there is common ground between the two sides, and where all students can feel I'm on their side.
One of my go-to examples has always been condemning white supremacy, because my students have generally gotten on board, regardless of their political background. Remember, they're 18. They're discovering their own views RIGHT NOW.
I have always been able to point to outwardly obvious white supremacists as an ideological rival that we all share. (If I've had self-identified alt right/white supremacist students, they have not spoken up, and I have not worried about making them feel accommodated.)
The problem during the Trump era: conservative talking points mirror white nationalist talking points so much that now, when my conservative students hear me condemn white supremacy, they jump in and defend the white supremacists b/c there's so much overlap between their beliefs!
Yes, I know that it's always been there. There has always been a connection between modern politics and white supremacy. The status quo has always supported white supremacy in any number of ways.
But I miss the days where I could condemn white supremacy in the classroom and have both conservative and liberal students get on board. Now, I have to spend way more time convincing conservative students that white nationalism/alt right politics/white supremacy are all related.
Instead, I have conservative students who believe that in order to be a Republican, they have to get on board with Trump's agenda and rhetoric. It's exhausting, and it constantly feels like there is so much at stake. Because there is.
OOPS! This is obviously supposed to say I DON"T think making students feel alienated makes for a good learning experience.
