As a teacher of Audio, Video, Film production who manages a live, daily student produced newscast, I follow the news more than most people. I’m prepared to discuss with students a variety of current events, but I can’t say much about this election.
I organized my county’s first live daily student produced newscast in 1990. Since 1992, my newscast students have reported on six U.S. Presidential elections to the rest of the students in their schools. Elections are a time of great learning about our democracy. For years, I’ve assigned my students to research candidates, contests, and the issues of the day.
In the years following the 1980’s FCC changes to Equal Time and Fairness, I’ve seen political contests become more partisan. The 2012 contest between Obama and Romney created more tension between students than I had ever seen, but yet, that energy could be focused into amazing student productivity, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeIaK5y4NOY
How I miss the good ole days. In all these six prior elections, no one doubted the process. Everyone believed in democracy. That democracy belonged to everyone, even the students, whom although they could not vote, could read, research, and become informed. It is the belief in the system that makes America great.
Now, things have changed. My students can’t report this election on our live, daily morning newscast. In your mind, review all the content presented this election season. Now try to filter that for an 11-year old. Good luck. As I teacher, I can’t assign my high school students to read news that easily links to news about…inappropriate material. On any given day at school, should we discuss…you know…that…or the other things? So this year, my newscast students have been mute on the election. However, this is not by my instructional decree. Instead, my high school seniors look at me and say, “I can’t talk about this on the show.” My 17 and 18 year old students know better.
However, I’ve heard some of the middle schoolers quoting, “it’s rigged”.
This election of 2016 will happen on Tuesday November 8th, but I am concerned it will have long lasting effects. What if other teachers nationwide are avoiding the election? If young people grow up thinking, “it’s rigged”, what actions will they take? In 2032, my current 11-year old students will be 27. Will the election of 2032 begin the Age of Cynicism?
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Why you need to attend the documentary “In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen”.
Do you need a break from political debates, name-calling, and the questioning others’ patriotism?
Remember that movie “Redtails” released in 2012? A source of historical information for that movie was my friend’s documentary: “In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen”.
Fathom Events will be screening the documentary nationwide for one night only, March 29, 2016 in 205 theaters in 48 cities across the USA.
Work on the documentary began in 2009 when director Denton Adkinson and producer Bryan Williams were sitting in a Huddle House in downtown Augusta, GA when they noticed an older, distinguished African-American veteran having breakfast. The pair asked him of his service. He told them he was a Tuskegee Airman. Denton and Bryan were inspired and began a 3-year production that would eventually lead to receiving a letter of thanks from filmmaking icon George Lucas for their work on the documentary.
The documentary tells first-hand the stories of true heroes whose patriotism is inspirational. For that reason, I’ll be in the theater on March 29th. As a bonus, it was produced by my friends.
Links
Fathom Events Tickets
Trailer
Denton Adkinson
Bryan Williams
#TuskegeeAirmen75
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