Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/726969
"It was amazing. It was fun. It was some- times uncomfortable for all of the different party members to be sitting n ext to each other," recalls Knat- cal, Burbank Teachers A s s o c i a t i o n . " T h e y were nervous. I think some of them had never answered questions from students or sat at a table with each other before. It wasn't exactly a debate, but there was some jabbing back and forth." DISCUSSIONS ENCOURAGE CRITICAL THINKING "Let's continue our discussions on the presidential election and be as honest as possible. Don't worry that people are going to judge you." Social studies teacher Jasmin Brown encourages Chavez Middle School students to look beyond the sensationalism and focus on issues. Students are asked to stand on one side of the room if they believe immigration laws should change — and on the other if they support the status quo. All but two want change. "The next president should focus on reforming immigration," asserts seventh-grader Claudia Parra. "Even immigrants have rights because they 're human." Hillary Banuelos, also in seventh grade, opines that talk of building a wall detracts from the real issues. "I think the candidates should be talking about important things like poverty and hunger." Many students in the district feel "targeted" by Trump's pledge to deport undocumented residents and build a wall, says Brown, who also teaches AVID and leadership classes. Even students who would not be directly impacted are worried that a relative or neighbor might be affected if Trump is elected president, she says. Some students have asked Brown how Trump could be against immigration if his wife is an immigrant. Brown is a teacher leader in the CSU Long Beach and CSU Dominguez Hills sites for the California History–Social Science Project (CHSSP), a col- laborative of historians, K-16 teachers and scholars dedicated to excellence in history and social science. After receiving a statewide teacher leadership award from CHSSP last fall, she was honored by her district. e CHSSP project's website offers invaluable infor- mation for teaching about the election, says Brown. " We don't use Wikipedia, because anyone can edit that material. I try to find sources I trust as an educator to bring out 'aha!' moments in class discussions." T h e Ly n w o o d Te a c h e r s A s s o c i a t i o n m e m b e r gives kudos to her students for discussing the issues "The election has been a circus, and everyone is paying aention — including students." — DAVID KNATCAL, Burbank Teachers Association 24 cta.org In David Knatcal's civics class at Burroughs High School, students start asking questions as soon as the bell rings. F E A T U R E