Looking towards our future:Explaining the election to children
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Looking towards our future:Explaining the election to c... - 11/5/2008 4:24:12 PM
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steph381
Posts: 141
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Today, when I walked in my class all of my students were so excited. They were jumping up and down and couldn't wait to tell me that they watched the news and Obama was going to be the next President. (I teach in a school where the majority of my students are Hispanic and African-American) Their little faces lit up and one little mixed boy even told me we have a President that looks like him. Kids don't understand politics. To them, this was a win because they can look in the history books and see somebody who looks like them. The kids were inspired and one little girl told me that she was going to work hard because she was going to be the first woman President.  As the kids were busy telling me about the news they learned one little girl stood up and announced to the class the Obama is the devil and he kills babies. How do you even begin to try to talk to a 8 years old about abortion? She also told the class that Obama is a terrorist who is going to kill all of the white people. In that spilt second, the students who were so proud of our new President faces dropped. One of my higher level students who has an "old soul" spoke up and asked, "Why is that no matter what we do, black people will never be good enough for white people?" I had to end the conversation and send a note home with the students asking parents to talk about this election with their students. I felt bad that I couldn't answer this student question. So I'm looking for advice. How would you answer that question?
How do you explain this election to kids? Kids don't understand taxes, abortion, economy, etc. All they know is that a black man won for the first time ever. They don't understand about Republicans and Democrats. When they hear all of these negative things said about Obama they begin to question themselves and wonder, is it even worth it? Why are we killing our youth's hope with this negativity? Obama has inspired people all over this country. His mother was a poor, single parent and his grandparents helped raised him. Most of my students can relate to that home situation. He worked hard, went to college, go married before he had kids, and he has been a good father to his daughters. If the negativity continues, I see my students giving up on their dreams. To them, what's the point if people are still going to talk about them?
If you didn't agree with Obama's policies how do you make that "kid friendly" without making it look like you're talking "bad" about a black man? I want to be able to give my students and some of my parents a different view so they can understand why some people didn't vote for Obama and won't assume that it was because people were racist. Please keep in mind that I work in a public school, so I can't really explain to the students anything related to God. I would love to teach students about God's word but of course that would get me in lots of trouble with my boss.
Thanks for your help!
< Message edited by steph381 -- 11/5/2008 4:54:57 PM >
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 4:37:20 PM
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stamper_ben
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My grand daughter, a second grader who lives with us, was upset this morning when she found out the official results of the election. Seems her class had "voted" and McCain was the clear winner. How do I explain to her that I too don't understand the results that brought a man whose stated policies I fear? That the country made a mistake, in my opinion?
I suppose I could ask her why her class voted for McCain and go from there.
Wish I could help more.
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 4:39:56 PM
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steph381
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quote:
ORIGINAL: stamper_ben
My grand daughter, a second grader who lives with us, was upset this morning when she found out the official results of the election. Seems her class had "voted" and McCain was the clear winner. How do I explain to her that I too don't understand the results that brought a man whose stated policies I fear? That the country made a mistake, in my opinion?
I suppose I could ask her why her class voted for McCain and go from there.
Wish I could help more.
Yes, this is a tricky situation, no matter who you supported. I hope someone can help us both out. How can we explain to our children the results of the election?
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I never would have made it without the Lord!
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 4:43:05 PM
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stateofgrace
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Wow, I guess I'm glad my kids are 15 yo. and 19 yo. at this moment. They're still struggling with the results of the election, but at least we can talk about the issues and they understand them.
DD#1 said at her school (she goes to an evangelical Christian college) that all the Obama supporters were yelling and cheering outside really loudly last night.
And she was with a few friends when one guy made a negative but not crude or disrespectful comment about Obama. Another girl was walking by at the time and yelled at him, calling him a "hater."
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 4:52:38 PM
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blue1914
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I am an African American, and I will say it this way-I am not interested in telling my son that a "black" man won an election and is president of the United States, I want to tell him that a MAN who worked very hard won an election and is president of the United States. The fact that he happens to look a little like me is irrelevant.
Mr. Obama's accomplishment is historic no doubt-but it is not the "watershed" that many would like to paint this out to be. Yes we have a "black" president, we also still have racism, we also still have ignorance, we also still have challenges ahead of our nation and our people individually.
Many may now try to "hide" behind their vote for Mr. Obama to prove their lack of racism-whether they happen to be a racist or not does not hinge on their vote for or against Mr. Obama. Others appear to feel that they now have no right to criticize the actions of Mr. Obama for fear of seeming racist. While I do feel that Mr. Obama has been the victim of racism, that has NOT come directly from his direct competitor (Mr. McCain, though Mrs. Palin did have some dicey moments on the campaign trail IMO). Race did not-nor should it have-have a factor in the debates, issues stances of Mr. Obama or Mr. McCain, etc. etc. That was as true yesterday as it is today.
Mr. Obama worked for this accomplishment and did not ask for (nor receive) any preferrential treatment. His name was maligned with the best of them, he (and his family in some cases) were dragged through as much mud as any presidential candidate has ever been. He also did his share of maligning and mud dragging as well. This was a contest-and the better competitor won it.
THIS is the true essence of the words of Dr. King. His dream was that color would be a non-issue-and at least in this election, it was to everyone who was not small minded nor ignorant.
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 4:59:48 PM
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steph381
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Blue 1914,
I like your response. It's true, I'm going to stress to my students that hard work pays off in the end. It was Obama's hard work that won him the election and not his skin color. Thanks for the response.
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 5:31:27 PM
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essentialsaltes
Posts: 1021
Joined: 10/14/2007
From: Inglewood, CA
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quote:
ORIGINAL: steph381
Today, when I walked in my class all of my students were so excited. They were jumping up and down and couldn't wait to tell me that they watched the news and Obama was going to be the next President. (I teach in a school where the majority of my students are Hispanic and African-American) Their little faces lit up and one little mixed boy even told me we have a President that looks like him. Kids don't understand politics. To them, this was a win because they can look in the history books and see somebody who looks like them. The kids were inspired and one little girl told me that she was going to work hard because she was going to be the first woman President. As the kids were busy telling me about the news they learned one little girl stood up and announced to the class the Obama is the devil and he kills babies. How do you even begin to try to talk to a 8 years old about abortion? She also told the class that Obama is a terrorist who is going to kill all of the white people. In that spilt second, the students who were so proud of our new President faces dropped. One of my higher level students who has an "old soul" spoke up and asked, "Why is that no matter what we do, black people will never be good enough for white people?" I had to end the conversation and send a note home with the students asking parents to talk about this election with their students. I felt bad that I couldn't answer this student question. So I'm looking for advice. How would you answer that question?
That's a tough one. I might ask them:
Do all white people believe exactly the same thing?
Do all black people believe exactly the same thing?
Maybe discuss that for a bit, show that all people share similarities and differences. A white person and a black person can have the same favorite football team. Two black people can have different favorite football teams.
Then bring up that about half of white people voted for Obama. So there are millions of white people who thought Obama is not only good enough, but the best man for the job. And lots of white people who didn't vote for him (because they have differences of opinion) still thought he was good enough to be president. They just liked McCain (or someone else) better. They like one football team better than another.
Very few people think Obama is not good enough. That's like saying a football team you hate should be kicked out of the NFL. Very few people say that about Obama.
Good luck!
_____________________________
"My object in all arguments is not to make any preconceived opinion of mine seem right, but merely to discover and establish the truth, whatever the truth may be."
-- HP Lovecraft, letter to Robert E. Howard 7/27-28/34
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 6:09:19 PM
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ManimalX
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quote:
ORIGINAL: SovereignIsHe
quote:
ORIGINAL: Evangel70
The parents of this little girl should be ashamed of themselves. To submit a child to such hatred, let alone misinformation, is simply a form of child abuse. 
What of all those parents who lie to their kids and tell them Obama is a good man who doesn't support things like abortion and homosexuals?
quote:
Even if parents disagree with Obama's politics, they should help their children celebrate the historic moment that we just elected America's first african american president and celebrate the fact that any child can have the same dream.
Not that expense of the truth that an unjust man was elected to the highest office of the land...
I didn't want to be the "downer" (i.e. truth-teller) here, but you wrote the same thing I was going to. I don't think that teaching your child that Obama is "the devil" is exactly the right way to go about it, but he DOES support killing babies, and terrorists DO like him. This isn't misniformation and didn't go away just because he won the election.
I haven't talked about abortion with my 5-year-old yet, but he sure gets the evil of socialism. We were watching the news one night right after Obama had accidentally let his income redistribution philosophy slip to Joe the Plumber. My 5-year-old looked at me and said, "Why does Obama want to take the money from the man who worked hard and give it to other people? That is bad and wrong!" (I am quoting this verbatim, a little bragging my 5yo is extremely verbal and articulate). My 1-year-old sees an Obama ad and says, "Bad Bama!" Of course, I taught him to say that.
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 6:16:14 PM
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wing2000
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quote:
Well, after my oldest son asked me if I had found a place for us to live in Australia yet I explained to my kids that though I had strongly opposed Obama for President because of his political beliefs and past actions, an election is a little bit like the first day of school; you have an 'A' until you fail to perform.
I'm glad to know you're not moving to Australia -- though I hear it's a wonderful place :)
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 6:19:19 PM
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Jhud
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quote:
I'm glad to know you're not moving to Australia -- though I hear it's a wonderful place :)
Hey, somebody has to be here to maintain balance in Minnesota; I leave, and it tips so far left that people will be sliding off the road into the ditches this winter.
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I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
- C.S. Lewis
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 6:21:34 PM
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wing2000
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My 5th grader was also told by onf of his classmates that Obama was going to "bomb" America and that he's a terrorists (knowing the parents, I was not surprised). I explained that some people are trying to use fear rather than fact-based logic to persuade people. ...and that when it comes to politics, many people think lying in the name of their political cause is ok.
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 6:51:38 PM
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letusreason
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My 5th grade daughter took an interest and was hoping for McCain before I even told her my preference. I tried to explain the electoral map and she was sort of into it.
The only thing I really had to explain was the McCain ad showing Rev Wright using the GD America rant. They had it bleeped but barely so it sounded like this "G-D D--M America". It came on and she heard it and said, "Did he just say a bad word?" How do you explain that kind of hatred and blasphemy from a supposed clergy member to a kid? It some how seemed more disgusting, vile, and unholy hearing a child question it.
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 8:30:01 PM
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Matt Smith
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Hey Steph! First, THANK YOU for your work as a teacher. As far as I'm concerned, y'all don't get nearly the appreciation or pay you deserve. It's such vital work.
In the moment someone asked that question, I'd say "What do you mean black people are never good enough for white people? You think Obama got elected president without millions of white people who voted, or who volunteered their time and money to his campaign? Obama has united all kinds of different people who think he's the best person to be our new President." Then I'd get on YouTube or the net and show them some pictures of people of all colors, crying and laughing and celebrating together last night.
And you can tell them about someone you know who's White and thinks Obama is the best presidential candidate I've ever seen. I wish I were more like him.
I'd say that every President has people who think they're great, and then others who can't stand them. And that Obama knows it, and it doesn't bother him. That's what he signed up for when he ran for President! And he also says we can disagree without being disagreeable, and we can talk and listen to each other even when we disagree.
And if any student said more crazy stuff about killing white people or Obama being the devil, I'd smile big say "You really believe that? Wow. It must be hard to think we just elected the devil as our next President. That must be really upsetting to you. If I thought we'd elected the devil, I'd be pretty upset too. I hope everybody will understand that Susie's upset right now, and show some respect for that... and Susie, I hope you understand that some people are really happy right now, and we're going to respect that too."
And if she wanted to argue, I'd cut it off and say "We aren't here to argue about that, we're just going to accept that not everybody agrees, and that's okay. Thanks for letting us know what you think. Is there anyone who hasn't spoken yet, and wants to let us know what you think about the election?"
Good luck with it.
Matt
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/5/2008 8:42:53 PM
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SovereignIsHe
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Tell them the truth...
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Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/6/2008 2:28:11 AM
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Churchmouse26
Posts: 41
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quote:
ORIGINAL: steph381
Today, when I walked in my class all of my students were so excited. They were jumping up and down and couldn't wait to tell me that they watched the news and Obama was going to be the next President. (I teach in a school where the majority of my students are Hispanic and African-American) Their little faces lit up and one little mixed boy even told me we have a President that looks like him. Kids don't understand politics. To them, this was a win because they can look in the history books and see somebody who looks like them. The kids were inspired and one little girl told me that she was going to work hard because she was going to be the first woman President. As the kids were busy telling me about the news they learned one little girl stood up and announced to the class the Obama is the devil and he kills babies.
The adult(s) which this little girl overheard talking probably used the term figuratively, but the child (being just 8 yrs. old) took it literally, not having the cognitive ability to understand metaphors.
quote:
How do you even begin to try to talk to a 8 years old about abortion?
Interesting question. Children understand much more sometimes than we think they do. For example, most preschool-aged children (even), when presented with pictures of the preborn child in-utero (non-graphic) instinctively recognize it as a baby [see Jeanne Staker Garton's insightful book, Who Broke the Baby?]. Why can't adults?
Still, I don't envy you your task, not at all. The short answer is, you don't -- or at least we shouldn't have to. All children should be loved, valued and protected from the time of their conception onwards. To explain why some adults do not consider their lives important enough to reflect in our nation's laws...well, I don't think you can explain something like that to a child, because it has no legitimate explanation other than the reality of the original fall, inherent selifishness and sinfulness of mankind (which you've pointed out you cannot discuss within a public school setting).
quote:
She also told the class that Obama is a terrorist who is going to kill all of the white people. In that spilt second, the students who were so proud of our new President faces dropped. One of my higher level students who has an "old soul" spoke up and asked, "Why is that no matter what we do, black people will never be good enough for white people?" I had to end the conversation and send a note home with the students asking parents to talk about this election with their students. I felt bad that I couldn't answer this student question. So I'm looking for advice. How would you answer that question?
Interesting comment that the older student made. Why is it that he equates disagreement with a person's beliefs, morals, values or policies with skin color? My guess is that he probably picked this association up from the news media, his parents, older siblings or other influential adults in his life. If I were the teacher in such a situation, I would calmly and rationally explain that to disagree with someone over an issue isn't related to and has nothing to do with their skin color. One can disagree strongly, even disapprove of another's actions and decisions, while at the same time not devaluing them as a person with basic rights, needs, abilities, talents and intrinsic value that God gave to us all.
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Why are we killing our youth's hope with this negativity?
Why as a nation do we continue killing generations of children through legalized, government-subsidized abortion?  To me, that is a more basic, fundamental question. Children must be allowed to come into the world before they can be fed, housed, educated, nurtured and spiritually and emotionally affirmed.
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Obama has inspired people all over this country. His mother was a poor, single parent and his grandparents helped raised him. Most of my students can relate to that home situation. He worked hard, went to college, go married before he had kids, and he has been a good father to his daughters. If the negativity continues, I see my students giving up on their dreams. To them, what's the point if people are still going to talk about them?
At the risk of seeming somewhat insensitive here, it's a rough, competitive world out there. To be insulated from any and all criticism, from every single individual and sector of society is an unrealistic expectation. You want children to feel sufficiently confident, safe and secure enough in their own identity, being emotionally supported by friends, family and other adult mentors that they do not take unfounded criticisms personally or see themselves as helpless victims due to their race, national origin, skin color or background etc.
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If you didn't agree with Obama's policies how do you make that "kid friendly" without making it look like you're talking "bad" about a black man? I want to be able to give my students and some of my parents a different view so they can understand why some people didn't vote for Obama and won't assume that it was because people were racist. Please keep in mind that I work in a public school, so I can't really explain to the students anything related to God. I would love to teach students about God's word but of course that would get me in lots of trouble with my boss.
As one poster suggested earlier, tell them the truth. People have a lot of different opinions on different issues which have to be decided on and administered in government. While your students are a bit young for social studies, you could basically go over the way the U.S. government is structured (with the three major branches), how long Presidents serve once elected to office, minimum age requirements for voting and so on. Make the discussion and explanation flow naturally out from this; i.e., that America is a "melting pot" of people of all different races, nationalities and creeds, and sometimes those things in our background and life's experiences lead us to different conclusions about what is important in life. Good Luck.
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/6/2008 12:03:56 PM
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essentialsaltes
Posts: 1021
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quote:
ORIGINAL: SovereignIsHe
Don't forget to mention that 95% of black folks voted for Obama...
If you do, don't forget to mention that 90% of black folks voted for Gore in 2000.
_____________________________
"My object in all arguments is not to make any preconceived opinion of mine seem right, but merely to discover and establish the truth, whatever the truth may be."
-- HP Lovecraft, letter to Robert E. Howard 7/27-28/34
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/6/2008 12:45:10 PM
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cow451
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quote:
ORIGINAL: letusreason
My 5th grade daughter took an interest and was hoping for McCain before I even told her my preference. I tried to explain the electoral map and she was sort of into it.
The only thing I really had to explain was the McCain ad showing Rev Wright using the GD America rant. They had it bleeped but barely so it sounded like this "G-D D--M America". It came on and she heard it and said, "Did he just say a bad word?" How do you explain that kind of hatred and blasphemy from a supposed clergy member to a kid? It some how seemed more disgusting, vile, and unholy hearing a child question it.
You mean you didn't explain who paid to air that on TV?
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Nobody ever heard of Acid Rain before we sent people into space.
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/6/2008 12:45:15 PM
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Soxfan
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I told my children that the only history that was made on 11/4/08 was that 62 million Americans rejected what made this country great and instead voted to make America a SOCIALIST nation.
Basically, 62 million Americans voted to:
- Have ALL their taxes increased
- Increase the slaughter of innocent unborn children
- Allow the government to take over our 401k's
- Raise the Capital Gains Tax, killing business growth
- Wave the white flag of surrender all over the world
- Enact the "Fairness Doctrine
- Implement Nationalized Healthcare
- Increase the estate (death) tax
- Give driver's licenses for illegal aliens
- Cut the defense budget 25%, get out of Iraq, get out of Afghanistan; while Putin's loading up Europe with missiles?
- Appoint liberal judicial appointments to the federal bench, including the Supreme Court?
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"This would be the first step in apostasy; men first forget the true, and then adore the false.".......C.H. Spurgeon
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RE: Looking towards our future:Explaining the election ... - 11/6/2008 10:23:00 PM
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letusreason
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quote:
ORIGINAL: cow451
quote:
ORIGINAL: letusreason
My 5th grade daughter took an interest and was hoping for McCain before I even told her my preference. I tried to explain the electoral map and she was sort of into it.
The only thing I really had to explain was the McCain ad showing Rev Wright using the GD America rant. They had it bleeped but barely so it sounded like this "G-D D--M America". It came on and she heard it and said, "Did he just say a bad word?" How do you explain that kind of hatred and blasphemy from a supposed clergy member to a kid? It some how seemed more disgusting, vile, and unholy hearing a child question it.
You mean you didn't explain who paid to air that on TV?
i told her it was bo's pastor and some more i can't remember. she knew it was wrong and was probably left with more curosity than anything
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Proverbs 16:2
All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives.
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I explained to my kids that though I had strongly opposed Obama for President because of his political beliefs and past actions, an election is a little bit like the first day of school; you have an 'A' until you fail to perform. 
is worse than the fact McCain lost. 
