Talk? Can We

by Emily Rogers, Pop Culture Editor

It looks like the divided partisan world of adult politics has found its way to 801 Niblick Road.

In a survey conducted questioning 8.5 percent of the student population on whether they feel comfortable or not speaking about their political opinions on campus, around 60 percent said that they would possibly feel comfortable voicing their opinion, while 40 percent said that they’d feel uncomfortable.

Of those surveyed 23.1 percent identified themselves as Republicans, 19.4 percent as Democrats, and 57.5 percent being Independent or unsure of their political standing.

According to the survey results, students who identified as Republicans seemed to be the most comfortable talking in front of their peers who may have a differing opinion than them.

According to college vine, a site dedicated to helping students navigate the process of applying to college, political engagement is important as a young teen. “... it shows that you’ve taken an interest in the world beyond yourself....” said college vine. “Colleges like to see that applicants are projecting past their college years and considering how they might eventually have an effect on the world at large. Whether or not you become a politician, your precocious interest in politics indicates that you’re already thinking about what issues are of importance to you,” said college vine.

Such a process of debate is important to the administration of PRHS. Superintendent, Dr. Curt Dubost, wants students to be able to have civil conversations where they can agree to disagree.

To make students more comfortable speaking or representing their political beliefs, PRHS has a guidance policy for how teachers and staff must conduct themselves concerning controversial ideasRegulation 6144: Controversial Issues.

“I would hope that there would be a culture in every classroom where people are allowed to share controversial ideas, as long as it’s not done in a mean way to try and beat somebody or whatever, as long as it’s legitimate debate that presents both sides of an issue, objectively, that doesn’t put anybody down for having a different opinion,”.

DR. CURT

Principal Anthony Overton is hoping to run a program in February or March called Rachel’s Challenge that hopes to create a safe and comfortable environment on campus. “ It’s really a program all about kindness and acceptance of others and the way we treat each other. I think that’s probably the first thing that people need to hear so we can have a genuine conversations, because right now I’m sad to say that I think a lot of people default to anger or malice towards somebody just because they have a different opinion,”Overton said.

How comfortable sharing your views?

Q: How do you avoid intolerance?

A: “I am always trying to debate with kindness because I get called names for my political opinion constantly which is hurtful so I know how it feels to be put down.”

Q: How important do you think polical debates are?

A: “I think it’s incredibly important for anyone to be able to express their opinions and what they feel is right because no one should be silenced for having their own mind and thoughts,” Bishop said.

Q: How comfortable are you voicing your opinon on a scale from 1-5?

Ella Bishop, 11

A: “I would probably be a 3 or 4 on a scale from 1-5 on how comfortable I am sharing my opinions, just because there are other people who are strongly right or strongly left and so I feel as though they wouldn’t really agree with me; so it’s easier for me to just not show my opinions to others,” Babb said. However, Babb identifies having a safe space on campus to voice his opinions.\\, “There are places on campus, like my Government classroom, with Mr. Askew, where it (political debate) is very much accepted.”

Seth Babb, 12