Is This Polite Company? Let’s Disobey our Parents and Talk Politics

I grew up hearing some odd advice from adults. “Don’t talk about religion or politics.” As someone who has always been interested in and engaged by both topics, I found myself being “impolite” quite frequently growing up. How could core aspects of the human experience, the American experience, and my own identity be so taboo? At least taboo outside of the house and in “polite company.” Now that I am a father and educator leading an independent Catholic school that is intentionally diverse, in a time when religion is highly politicized and politics is highly polarized, I am tempted to fall back on that old advice.

But I’ve grown up since then. I know better. I think we all do.

Here’s some different (better?) advice: Learn how to talk about religion and politics and start by being curious. Learning and curiosity are antidotes to polarization and judgment. They are stances on the world that invite others in, de-center the ego, and create space for growth and development in every aspect of life. Independent and Catholic schools like Providence High School are, first and foremost, learning communities, curious communities. We are not partisan political organizations (despite what you may hear) and not just because our nonprofit status prevents us from being partisan, but because that is what is best for students.

Polarization in schools is a real thing. It became such a common topic of conversation among school leaders and within schools that the National Association of Independent Schools conducted a research study to understand it. Schools don’t exist in vacuums, and we cannot ignore the divisions within our society. That would be education malpractice. We need to engage each other, talk to each other, and listen to each other.

So, let’s disobey our parents and talk about what we think we can’t talk about. The 2024 election is on everyone’s mind, and it is unhealthy to avoid it.

• According to the American Psychological Association, their “Stress in America poll found that 57% of people surveyed said that the 2024 presidential election was already a significant source of stress for them.” That was back in 2022!

• The American Psychiatric Association released their own annual mental health results in March. Their assessment is clear: “U.S. adults are feeling increasingly anxious. In 2024, 43% of adults say they feel more anxious than they did the previous year, up from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022. Adults are particularly anxious about current events (70%) — especially the economy (77%), the 2024 U.S. election (73%), and gun violence (69%).”

• Here’s a list of 4 things from The Washington Post that you can do to support your mental health and cope with anxiety this election season.

We have a proactive approach to the election season here at Providence High School. First and foremost, we rely upon our dedicated and talented teachers to take advantage of the election season as a learning opportunity. Our teachers know what they are doing and are showing leadership in our classrooms by fostering dialogue, teaching students how to disagree agreeably, and how to be actively engaged citizens. Thank you to our teachers!

This year we are proud to partner with Project Sphere, a collaboration between the Cato Institute and the Brookings Institute. Sphere provides educators with viewpoint diverse resources to bring conversations to the classroom and equip students to engage in civil discourse. It is also an online debate series designed to create the gold standard for civil discussions of policy issues and political philosophy based on common values and shared objectives.

• This summer Mr. Rick Holifield, our Assistant Head of School, Dr. Fatima Nicdao, Associate Principal for Partnerships & Impact, and Laura Wendel-Dumas, Social Studies faculty, represented Providence at the Sphere Summit: Teaching Civic Culture Together in Washington, DC.

• Allan Carey, Director of Sphere Education Initiatives, will be on our campus September 16 to lead a full day program for our faculty and staff about how to effectively foster civil discourse on our campus.

• Allan will also be on campus for a special event for parents and guardians the morning of September 17. Stay tuned for a formal invitation!

PHS is almost 70 years old and we have seen a lot of election cycles come and go. “There is nothing new under the sun;” This isn’t our 1st rodeo; We’ve seen this movie before. Each election is a learning opportunity, and we learn each time. This time will be no different.

AND according to Stanford Professor Scott Sagan “Things that have never happened before happen all the time.” We are also preparing for the unknown and the uncertain and recognize that the unexpected does happen (like a global pandemic or crash in our driveway 10 minutes before pick-up!). Don’t we all expect the unexpected these days?

Brief aside: I love a paradox. If you want to read an interesting take about how the two paragraphs above are not contradictory, read this article from the Daily Stoic.

The bottom line: We will make decisions regarding this election cycle the way we make all decisions, by focusing on what is most consistent with our mission and values and what is best for our students.

And remember this is a partnership. We’re in this together. Reach out to us. We got this!

See you next time,

Scott

Bonus Quote: “Historians are not prophets.” The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel