This year’s presidential election is filling the airwaves with hate speech, both subtle and overt. While shocking and scary, it is sadly not new. Institutionalized racism, classism, sexism, and xenophobia have permeated elections throughout U.S. history. To help provide that historical context, we share below some lessons, articles, and books for the classroom about elections and voting rights. For ongoing and in-depth election news beyond the headlines, we recommend Democracy Now!
Creating a healthy learning environment is a challenge in this climate of presidential candidate fear-mongering and threats. We recommend reading and discussing the Teaching Tolerance study called the Trump Effect. Our early childhood anti-bias resources can be useful for teachers trying to provide students with a sense of safety and well-being.
Lessons
This role play allows students to explore the political debates of the time and the real reasons for the Civil War. Written by Bill Bigelow and available on the Zinn Education Project website.
This role play explores one of the most important events in the fight for true democracy in U.S. history.
In this role play, students consider what part money plays in elections. (Note: This lesson is from 1992, predating the first female U.S. Democratic National Committee nominee and the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United.)
Through this quiz, and the answers that appear after each response, you can challenge assumptions, deepen understanding, and inspire further learning about the voting rights struggle.
Articles
An editorial from the editors of Rethinking Schools explains why and how teachers should address racism and white supremacy during this election cycle and beyond. “We know time is short before the elections, but the damage wrought by racist comments and slurs fueled by the campaign will be long-lasting. And the anti-racist teaching that emerges because of thoughtful parents and educators—and from students who demand more relevant curricula—will flower and bear fruit long after November’s election.”
A survey of more than 2,000 teachers by Teaching Tolerance found that the “Trump Effect” is “having a profoundly negative impact on schoolchildren across the country, producing an alarming level of fear and anxiety among children of color and inflaming racial and ethnic tensions in the classroom.” Teaching Tolerance has posted a collection of resources for countering bias, addressing controversial topics in the classroom, and teaching about the elections here.
This article explores how the 1965 Voting Rights Act came into being through strategic organizing and activism spearheaded by the African American community.
The story of Lowndes County, Alabama offers an excellent case study on the history of the voting rights struggle after the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
Books
To read more about the history of the fight for voting rights, see our list of books on the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. For contemporary voting rights activism, see the Advancement Project.
Let us know via email how you are teaching about the elections and other resources you recommend.
Teaching about Elections
This year’s presidential election is filling the airwaves with hate speech, both subtle and overt. While shocking and scary, it is sadly not new. Institutionalized racism, classism, sexism, and xenophobia have permeated elections throughout U.S. history. To help provide that historical context, we share below some lessons, articles, and books for the classroom about elections and voting rights. For ongoing and in-depth election news beyond the headlines, we recommend Democracy Now!
Creating a healthy learning environment is a challenge in this climate of presidential candidate fear-mongering and threats. We recommend reading and discussing the Teaching Tolerance study called the Trump Effect. Our early childhood anti-bias resources can be useful for teachers trying to provide students with a sense of safety and well-being.
Lessons
The Election of 1860 Role Play
This role play allows students to explore the political debates of the time and the real reasons for the Civil War. Written by Bill Bigelow and available on the Zinn Education Project website.
Sharecroppers Challenge U.S. Apartheid: The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
This role play explores one of the most important events in the fight for true democracy in U.S. history.
The Cost of an Election
In this role play, students consider what part money plays in elections. (Note: This lesson is from 1992, predating the first female U.S. Democratic National Committee nominee and the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United.)
Voting Rights Act History Quiz
Through this quiz, and the answers that appear after each response, you can challenge assumptions, deepen understanding, and inspire further learning about the voting rights struggle.
Articles
Racism, Xenophobia, and the Election
An editorial from the editors of Rethinking Schools explains why and how teachers should address racism and white supremacy during this election cycle and beyond. “We know time is short before the elections, but the damage wrought by racist comments and slurs fueled by the campaign will be long-lasting. And the anti-racist teaching that emerges because of thoughtful parents and educators—and from students who demand more relevant curricula—will flower and bear fruit long after November’s election.”
The Trump Effect: The Impact of the Presidential Campaign on Our Nation’s Schools
A survey of more than 2,000 teachers by Teaching Tolerance found that the “Trump Effect” is “having a profoundly negative impact on schoolchildren across the country, producing an alarming level of fear and anxiety among children of color and inflaming racial and ethnic tensions in the classroom.” Teaching Tolerance has posted a collection of resources for countering bias, addressing controversial topics in the classroom, and teaching about the elections here.
The Voting Rights Act: Ten Things You Should Know
This article explores how the 1965 Voting Rights Act came into being through strategic organizing and activism spearheaded by the African American community.
A Story Too Often Untold: Lowndes County, the Voting Rights Act, and the Birth of the Original Black Panther Party
The story of Lowndes County, Alabama offers an excellent case study on the history of the voting rights struggle after the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
Books
Michael S. Bandy
Carole Boston Weatherford
Kelly Dipucchio
Ari Berman
To read more about the history of the fight for voting rights, see our list of books on the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. For contemporary voting rights activism, see the Advancement Project.
Let us know via email how you are teaching about the elections and other resources you recommend.
Posted: August 26, 2016