The Fourcast JADE, November 2022 by Hockaday Student Publications

JADE MEDIA LITERACY AND THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS The Fourcast Magazine The Hockaday School Volume 6, Issue 1 November 2022

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE

ABOUT JADE

E VOTE VOTE

In 2017, The Fourcast added a new magazine to its traditional coverage. Named for the stone set in the ring of all graduating seniors, which was designed by Tiffany & Co. in 1917, JADE offers an in-depth look at the most pressing issues to the Hockaday community. Former Hockaday Dean of Upper School Ed Long once remarked that Ela Hockaday chose the jade stone because she considered it to be a symbol of wisdom. In honor of the stone’s legacy, JADE hopes to help inform the community and foster knowledgeable conversations about challenging topics.

ON THE COVER Art by Emily McShane Design by Zoya Haq and Juliana Blazek, Jade Editors

Election map

Who’s running in your district? How have new district lines been drawn? Refer to our election map for information on polling locations and district candidates.

Redistricting in Texas

Understand the history of redistricting and gerrymandering in Texas and how its legacy is impacting Texas’ political sphere today.

Media literacy & politics

In the digital age, one synonymous with an overwhelming access to information, media literacy is integral to critically digesting media and separating fact from fiction.

Meet the candidates

Meet the local, state and national candidates for the 2022 midterm elections, including the candidates for governor, district attorney, U .S. House of Representatives, Texas State Board of Education and Texas Supreme Court.

08 How to vote

Learn the steps for registering to vote, finding the most convenient polling location and understanding candidates and ballots.

On the Issues: Abbott & O’Rourke Gubernatorial candidates Greg Abbott and Beto O’Rourke’s published stances on Texas’ hot-button issues, including immigration, gun control, abortion and education.

Student standoff

Should social media platforms be able to censor political media? Hear from students on what they think and why.

Meet the 2022 candidates Caroline Petrikas, Managing Editor, Alexa Munoz, Staff Writer

Governor

Beto O’Rourke (D)

Greg Abbott (R)

Representing Texas’s 16th Congressional District from 2013 to 2019, Democratic candidate Beto O’Rourke says he aims to overcome Texas’s polarized politics and return the state to its former glory. Highlighting issues with public schools’ limited resources, O’Rourke plans to fully fund public schools and administrators. Advocating against limited health care accessibility and the power grid that prioritizes large corporations and the upper class, O’Rourke plans to reform the power grid and provide access to more affordable health care. O’Rourke said he seeks to create a safe and legal immigration system, support LGBTQ rights and increase voter registration and turnout. In addition, he said his goals are to provide equal opportunity and economic selfsufficiency, defend reproductive rights and protect Second Amendment rights while enforcing responsible use policies.

Serving as Texas’ governor since 2015, Republican incumbent Greg Abbott says he strives to build a healthier, safer, freer, and more prosperous future for Texas. Abbott seeks to develop long-term solutions for Covid-19 and health care crises by expanding health care access and coverage. In addition, Abbott plans to protect police resources and enhance public safety protections through heightened border security and a reformed bail system. To foster an economically opportunistic environment, Abbott will establish civil liability protections, provide business relief, and improve the electricity grid. Lastly, Abbott aims to preserve Texas’ status as the “freedom capital of America” by protecting unborn children, religious activities, election integrity, and Second Amendment rights.

Texas Supreme Court Place 3 Incumbent Republican Justice Debra Lehrmann is running against Democrat Erin A. Nowell and Libertatian Tom Oxford

Place 5 Incumbent Republican Justice Rebeca Aizpuru Huddle is running for re-election against Democrat Amanda Reichek

Place 9 Incumbent Republican Justice Evan Young is running for re-election against Democrat Julia Maldonado

Attorney General

Rochelle Garza (D)

Ken Paxton (R)

A civil rights attorney from Brownsville, Rochelle Garza is running to be the first Latina Democrat to lead the Texas attorney general’s office since 1994. Although the race is her first, her history in politics dates back to legal battles against Republican leaders over teen abortion access. Garza said she is running to protect the freedom and communities of Texas families.

The 51st Attorney General of Texas, elected in 2014, Ken Paxton is running for a third term in the midterm elections. The Republican faces lawsuits concerning security fraud accusations and claims of misbehavior while in office. Paxton said he devotes his incumbency to keeping Texan laws constitutional.

Lieutenant Governor

Mike Collier (D)

Dan Patrick (R)

A 2018 Democratic nominee, Mike Collier challenges Patrick again this year. He endorsed President Joe Biden in the 2020 primary, and aims to lower property taxes, improve Texas public schools and protect Texas women’s health care rights.

Republican Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is running for a third term in the November midterms. Patrick said he fights to secure the border, reduce property and business taxes, and stands for the Second Amendment.

State Board of Education District 13 (Dallas/Tarrant County)

Aicha Davis (D)

Kathryn Monette (R)

The current office holder, Democrat Aicha Davis, completes her term at the beginning of 2023 after holding the position for almost four years. As an advocate for a statewide course in African American studies, Davis said she aims to have equal representation of races shown in the public school curriculum.

Kathryn Monette is a DFW conservative and has been endorsed by the Texas Republican Assembly Endorsing Convention. She is running for SBOE to alter the public school curriculum. “I am for education and not indoctrination” is the motto of her campaign. Monette said she is primarily focused on reducing or eliminating gender and sex education.

House of Representative Candidates District 3: Collin County Keith Self (R)

Running for House of Representatives after being a judge on the Collin County Court, Republican Keith Self said he believes in closed borders, abolition of abortion and individual choices about COVID and other diseases.

Sandeep Srivastava (D)

Winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. House, Sandeep Srivastava’s priorities are lowering health care costs, regulating weapon sales, protecting women’s choice and promoting immigration rights.

Christopher Claytor (L)

After switching over to the Libertarian Party because he believed he was too conservative for the Republican Party, Clayton chose to run for the House of Representatives. His priorities include a smaller government with individual responsibilities.

District 33: Dallas and Tarrant County Marc Veasey (D)

Previously Chair Pro Tem of the House Democratic Caucus, congressman Marc Veasey is running for re-election after being in office for six terms. Veasey said his focuses are preventing gun violence prevention, maintaining open borders and protecting women’s right to choose.

Patrick Gillespie (R)

Gillespie, a Republican, listed goals that include limiting government power, encouraging personal accountability and responsibility and promoting strict adherence to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He supports border security and backs Gov. Greg Abbott.

2022 candidates, cont.

Melody Hu, Fourcast Editor-in-Chief and Amitha Nair, Staff Writer

Texas Legislature Candidates in DFW District 67: Collin County Jeff Leach (R)

The current office holder, Republican Jeff Leach, is running for re-election after being in office for more than three years. Leach lists as his central objectives stopping human trafficking, helping victims of sexual abuse, improving teaching and lowering taxes and health care costs.

Kevin Morris (D)

Kevin Morris, who works for a Fortune 500 corporation, is running as a Democrat. Morris said his main focuses will be funding public schools, creating accessible health care, fixing the infrastructure, securing voting rights and working on common-sense legislation. He promotes enacting gun safety reform, protecting LGBT+ rights, increasing the minimum wage and legalizing marijuana.

District 115: Dallas County Julie Johnson (D) If elected, Democrat Julie Johnson would be the first Democrat to represent District 115 in four decades. Johnson’s agenda includes promoting LGBTQ rights, protecting doctor-patient privacy and ensuring safety in schools.

District 101: Tarrant County Chris Turner (D) As the only candidate for District 101, Democrat Chris Turner has served Tarrant County in the Texas Legislature for six terms. He aims to make college more affordable, expand health care coverage and direct more funds to education. In the past, he has worked to protect the rights of women, LGBTQ individuals and veterans.

Melisa Denis (R) Melisa Denis is a Republican who has had a 30-year career at Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler, a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. As a candidate, her focus includes supporting public education, delivering property tax reform, preserving liberties and expanding Texas energy development. She also promotes plans to secure the Texas border.

How to vote: breaking down the steps Hanna Asmerom, Web Editor and Elizabeth Truelove, Staff Writer

s election day nears, millions of Texans are registering to vote. By doing so, they are playing a key role in the democratic process. At Hockaday, sophomores learn the importance of voting during their social impact government class. Earlier this semester, a representative from the League of Women Voters spoke to government students about registering to vote, how to vote and some of the restrictions on eligibility to vote. “We learned about voting and voter registration so we know what to expect when we reach voting age,” sophomore Daniela Perez said. “I was surprised by some of the rules in place for

voter registration.” Voting information and registration organizations like the League of Women Voters hope to encourage students to register to vote and understand the integral role they play in the government by educating and exposing them to the process earlier and more frequently. “Voting helps make our democracy work,”said Ellen Steger, president of the League of Women Voters of Richardson. On Nov. 8, individuals across the state, including faculty and students, will cast their votes. “This November I will vote for the first time,” senior Jordan Hanna said. “I am excited to have my voice heard.”

You are eligible to vote if you are: * A citizen of the United States * A resident of the county in which the application is made * Will be at least 18 by Nov. 8 * Have not been convicted of a felony, or if a convicted felon, have fully discharged your punishment, including any incarceration, parole, supervision or period of probation , or be pardoned * Have not been declared mentally incompetent by final judgment of a court of law

*Note*: The date to register to vote in the midterms has passed, but here are the steps to vote in future elections .

*To register by mail, printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local election office. * Register to vote in person at local voting locations. * To vote early, use the QR Code and enter your name, county, date of birth and zip code to find the closest location and open hours. * Whether you vote on election day or early, you need to bring one of the seven accepted forms of ID. * To vote via an absentee ballot you need to fill out the application linked below and submit your request to the local election office. *Submit a form of ID through a number in your request (use the last four numbers of your Social Security number, your driver’s license number, your Texas personal identification number, or election identification certificate number)

Oct. 24 - Nov. 4: Early voting Oct. 28: Absentee and mailin-ballot requests must have been received Nov. 8: Absentee ballots must be delivered in person or mailed back and postmarked by 7 p.m. Nov. 8: In-person voting

Absentee Ballot Application

Voting Locations

Students participate in civic process Caroline Bush, Arts and Life Editor, and Danya RisamChandi, Staff Writer

rom working as election clerks to interning for local politicians, students have found ways to get involved in the political process despite being too young to vote. While a majority of high school students cannot vote, they are still able to learn about the democratic process. Senior Alexandra Crosnoe worked as an election clerk during the 2020 election. Her tasks included helping people insert their ballots into the ballot machine and handing out “I Voted” stickers. “I think it’s really important that there are people there to facilitate [the voting process] because we want to make sure that Americans can exercise their right,” Crosnoe said. Crosnoe said she wants to do whatever she can to make sure people have the ability to cast their vote, which cannot happen without poll workers there to make sure the process runs smoothly. At the polls, workers are not allowed to talk about politics, creating an environment for citizens to cast their vote without bias. Students can apply to be poll workers with parental approval at 16, and they make $16 an hour. Working the polls is not the only way for students to make an impact in local elections. Junior Diya Hegde has so far worked on four candidates’ campaigns: Hosanna Yemiru, Deborah Peoples, Beto O’Rourke and, most recently, Sandeep Srivastava. Toward the end of her freshman year, she interned for Hosanna Yemiru’s Dallas City Council campaign, making phone calls and conducting donor research. She also researched Yemiru’s policies so she would have the knowledge to gain voter support. “It was a grassroots election, so more than anything, it was really important to get donors and funding for the campaign,” Hegde said. Hegde also was involved in the Beto O’Rourke for Texas campaign, which was a little different

from her previous experience. She wrote letters to constituents, encouraging them to come out and listen to O’Rourke’s plans. She even attended a couple of town hall meetings with O’Rourke, watching him speak and meeting other like-minded teenagers and adults who supported his campaign. Hegde said it feels good to take action and to apply what she has learned in her history classes. “It feels like I’m a part of something a lot bigger than myself,” Hegde said. “I’ve learned so much on these campaigns, from dealing with people who don’t always have the same ideas as I do to knocking on doors in a safe way.” By encouraging people face-to-face to vote, Hegde said she received the valuable experience of working in a professional field. During her freshman and sophomore years, Hegde devoted around 10 hours a week to a campaign. As a junior, she spends around five hours. When making a phone call for a campaign, Hegde starts by introducing herself. She then asks the person how their day is going to ease them into the conversation. After that, she explains why she is calling and tries to convince them to vote, giving them the dates of the election. “More than anything, that’s the priority – getting people out there and getting them voting and involved in their government,” Hegde said. Finally, she explains the policies of her candidate, hoping to rally support for his or her causes. Sometimes, she will cherry-pick policy areas based on the demographic – typically according to age. Hegde said she thinks it is important for teenagers like herself to get involved in the political process to convince the younger generations to vote. She sees people close to her age involved in political thought on the internet, yet voters aged 1824 are far outnumbered by those who are older. “It’s very clear that these are topics that affect us, that teenagers care about, yet a lot of us don’t realize that there are ways that we can actively get

involved and encourage community members to get out there,” Hegde said. Hegde said she thinks the most important thing for teenagers is having an education about government and understanding how it works. Senior Elle Chavis began working with state representative Victoria Neave during her sophomore year. She first worked at the polls during the special election in May. “It was my first time ever working as a poll worker, which was a little scary and intimidating but it was also a very fulfilling and exciting experience,” Chavis said. Chavis said her main goal is to keep things running smoothly as people are more likely to vote when the lines are shorter and they don’t have to wait for hours. “One of the reasons that I love this is that you’re really interacting with the common, everyday sort of person,” Chavis said. “They go to work every day, they just want to make sure that their kids have food and that the electricity is on.” Though she has enjoyed working with representative Neave, Chavis said she doesn’t think she would fare well in politics. “Funnily enough, I actually got out of it that I don’t want to go into politics as a career,” she said. “I loved helping out with them but I was like, ‘Wow I could not do this for the rest of my life.’”

Diya Hegde: Campaign Volunteer

Alexandra Crosnoe: Poll Worker

Elle Chavis: Political Intern

“It feels like I’m a part of something bigger than myself.” - Diya Hegde, Form III

Congressional district map Learn which candidates are running for Congress in your district Hanna Asmerom , Web Editor and Elle Myers, Staff Writer

District 24

24th

Jan McDowell (D)

Dallas Democrat Jan McDowell supports gun control and free access to abortion. She said she hopes to protect the environment and accept, with regulation, as many immigrants as possible into the country.

Beth Van Duyne (R)

Beth Van Duyne is the former mayor of Irving. Through her previous experience of “defeat[ing] government corruption,” Van Duyne said she hopes to remove “criminal aliens,” encourage job growth and protect North Texans.

33rd District 33

Scan to locate your district based on your home address.

Jasmine Crockett (D)

An attorney and representative in the Texas House, Jasmine Crockett is running for United States Congress. Crockett said she hopes to be a fighter for the nation while upholding basic democratic principles and promoting the freedom of the American people.

James Rodgers (R)

Baylor alum Dr. James Rodgers said he will use his expertise in education to build school innovation. Rodgers said the backbone of Texas was built on legal immigration, and he hopes to secure the border by the use of border personnel and a zero-tolerance policy toward human trafficking.

Polling locations: Irving Arts Center

Voting Area: Suite 200 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd Irving, TX 75062

Duncanville Library

Voting Area: MTG RM 1-3 201 James Collins Blvd Duncanville, TX 75116

District 32 Colin Allred (D)

Born and raised in the 32nd District of North Texas, Colin Allred is the district’s incumbent candidate for Congress. He advocates for universal health care and mandatory education for children. He also said he plans to make preserving a healthy environment part of America’s economy and to push back on the idea that “mass shootings are a part of American life.”

Antonio Swad (R)

32nd

Pizza Patron and WingStop founder Antonio Swad said he will use his tough negotiating skills to represent Texas’ 32nd District. Swad said he believes in securing future energy by developing natural energy sources and avoiding higher gas prices. He also said he believes schools should not push “the social experimentation.”

District 30

Marc Veasey (D)

The incumbent representative for District 33, Marc Veasey serves as a self- proclaimed liaison between the common man and the government. He has created the first Congressional Voting Rights Caucus to eliminate discrimination in voting. He said he “relates most to the middle class man” and works to address the needs of that community.

Patrick Gillespie (R)

Lake Highlands HS L Auditorium 9449 Church Road Dallas, TX 75238

Coppell Town Center Voting Area: Atrium 255 E. Parkway Blvd Coppell, TX 75019

West Virginia born Patrick Gillespie said he is grateful for the opportunity to represent the Republican party in the 33rd District. Gillespie said he supports the protection of property, the adherence to the original language in the Constitution and limiting government power.

Inside the lines

Redistricting can affect how much each vote counts

Ambyr Baker, Sports Editor, Bennett Trubey, Arts & Life Editor The political influence of redistricting has the potential to lessen or inflate certain voters’ influence which determines the dominating party of state elections. The new Texas redistricting map was approved in Oct. 2021 and consists of 38 districts. Setting the political stage for the next decade, Texas redistricting created 13 Democraticleaning seats, 24 Republican-leaning seats and one highly competitive seat in the House of Representatives. A redistricting map is a division of the state into different geographical units that satisfy certain population constraints. This political process occurs every 10 years based on the results of the U.S. Census. The Census determines how many districts – and therefore seats in the House of Representatives — a state has. The district lines are redrawn and must include approximately the same population in each district. The census guides the drawing of these lines, but politicians are the ones who create the districts. Because politicians draw these maps, their decisions about the location of the district boundaries are often skewed toward a respective party. Knowing the potential outcome of an election can affect their chances of being reelected, they primarily consider how to best position themselves for their side’s later success. Associate Professor of Mathematics at Southern Methodist University Andrea Barreiro conducts her own independent research to find what mathematical components make a fair redistricting map. “Our congressional districts have to be of equal size in terms of population and they also have to be contiguous,” Barreiro said. “You cannot have distinct pieces that are disconnected from one another.” State legislatures use information about what party districts have voted for in past elections to inform their redistricting, as the number of democratic or republican-leaning seats in the House of Representatives is dependent on the party-line outcomes of districts’ votes.” Matthew Lockard, the Associate Professor of Philosophy at Southern Methodist University (SMU), teaches his students about the logic behind different voting methods and collective decision making within politics. “To mitigate partisan bias, states like California and Arizona handed the redistricting process to two supposedly independent commissions,” Lockard said. “The results of that have been very mixed, but I am interested to know how politicians can aggregate a group of people’s preferences and come up with a reasonable verdict that represents the group as a whole.” Intentionally influencing the district lines to appeal to a certain political group is known as gerrymandering. In Texas, specifically, the state legislature abides by no legal constraints to

drawing biased maps because there is no written law in the Constitution that prevents it. Junior Anika Proddutoor particularly questions the district lines drawn in Texas. While the winning side varies from state to state depending on the party in control of the legislature, Texas’ districts support the Republican party. “Even if there is a larger number of a certain group of voters, the minority in that county could win based on how they redistrict,” Proddutoor said. “I looked at some of the Houston split-ups, and it was kind of crazy because some of the districts looked like lines.” Scott Bowman, Upper School history teacher and former government lawyer, explained the districts sometimes have interesting shapes to dilute the opposing voter opinion. “They try to break up what otherwise would have been a winning district for the other party,” Bowman said. In Texas, the Senate and the House are dominated by Republicans, so the lines historically have been drawn in favor of that party. Once the redistricting process is complete and the map is

drawn, the state governor signs it into law – as Republican Gov. Greg Abbott did in Oct. 2021. The government procedure within Texas includes checks and balances, but not many beyond limits on race-based redistricting. “The Supreme Court has found that you’re not supposed to redistrict or draw lines in a way that dilutes minority votes based on race,” Bowman said. “That is a check in the sense that you can go to the court system to get maps reviewed for that.” Redistricting has a greater effect on elections today, and the future, than people realize. Changes in these district lines alter the relevancy of certain voters and, in turn, who is finally elected to represent the state. At SMU, Barreiro intends for her research to inspire people to assume control of the process. “Ultimately, I hope, through independent research, to move the needle in public opinion towards achieving an independent redistricting commission for Texas,” Barreiro said. “I would like to see us have a citizen-driven independent commission so that redistricting is taken out of the partisan political process and becomes fair to its citizens.”

OPINION

Redistricting repercussions

Gerrymandering undermines democratic process Every 10 years, the government conducts a census measuring the U.S. population. According to demographic and population changes, voting districts are then redrawn in a process known as redistricting. Though this is a necessary process, it can be extremely unfair. In Texas, the political party in control of the state house also controls redistricting, resulting in a political phenomenon called gerrymandering. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, gerrymandering occurs when lines are drawn to manipulate boundaries and predetermine the outcome of elections, hindering voters from voicing their interests through their votes. In government class, we learn about the two most common methods used to gain advantages in gerrymandering: “packing” and “cracking”. “Packing” means grouping as many members of the opposing party into one district as possible. This results in the overwhelming win of the party in certain districts, but weakens their influence overall. “Cracking” is the act of splitting members of the opposing party into various districts so they will not make up a majority in any of them. Both of these methods, though in congruence with the Constitution, give an unfair advantage to the party in control. And though the Voting Rights Act and the

Constitution prohibit racial gerrymandering, there are ways to get around that rule. In 2019, the Supreme Court’s decision in Rucho v. Common Cause allowed partisan gerrymandering. The Brennan Center reasoned that since there is often a correlation between Melody Tian party preference and race, News Editor racially discriminatory gerrymandering is often legally justified. Not only is gerrymandering unfair, but it also causes predictability in voting outcomes. In most districts, people can tell which side is going to win by looking at how the district is drawn. An indirect consequence is that general elections are giving way to party primaries, since the winning party is basically predetermined. The United States prides itself on its system of representative democracy — a government elected by its citizens. However, officials are no longer representing the viewpoints of the common people, but rather the small minority in charge of redistricting Gerrymandering must be stopped for the United States to be truly democratic again.

Public schools politicized

Education a point of contention in November midterms Zoya Haq, Jade Editor and Anjy Fadairo, Staff Writer

In advance of the November midterm elections, a key issue that has defined political conversations is the state of public education in Texas. Following the uproar surrounding Critical Race Theory in 2021, candidates for positions ranging from the Texas Legislature to the State Board of Education are making education a platform priority. As a result, public education has become a partisan issue polarizing conversations relating to Texas public schools and curriculum. uring the 87th session of the Texas Legislature in 2021, a lineup of education-related bills prohibited teachers from discussing certain topics in the classroom, such as “widely debated and currently controversial issues of public policy or social affairs.” One of these bills, Texas Senate Bill 3, centers around the teaching of social studies. The bill not only focuses on curriculum, but also addresses how teachers present topics regarding the role race and gender play throughout history. The passage of SB 3 followed a period of national and state discord over the teaching of so-called “critical race theory,” defined as a group of concepts used for examining the relationship between race and the laws and legal institutions of a country, especially the United States. SB 3 states that in Texas, social studies should be focused on relaying accurate and diverse information about the United States and its history without giving preference to any specific group of people, especially not on the basis of race or sex. However, its implementation in Texas schools led to a crackdown on teaching about institutions like slavery and exclusionary immigration acts. The uproar surrounding the SB 3 vote in October 2021 trickled over into 2022, when the Texas State Board of Education planned to start its decennial social studies curriculum review. Those who opposed SB 3 saw the curriculum vote as an opportunity to push back against the bill’s stipulations. Alongside a revamped course plan for U.S. and Texas history, this process saw courses like Asian-American Studies and Native-American Studies on the docket for consideration. However, on Sept. 2, the SBOE voted to delay its review of Texas’ social studies curriculum— and the decisions they will make regarding these new elective courses — until 2025.

What does the curriculum delay do? If the SBOE had continued its curriculum review process in 2022, Asian American Studies and Native American Studies may have been available as elective courses to Texas students as

“Politics is supposed to be the service work that serves the people; this is politics serving the politicians” - Georgina Perez, Secretary of the State Board of Education

soon as 2024. With the delay, the soonest these courses could become available is 2027. Lily Trieu is an Asian-American organizer who founded state-wide nonprofit Asian Texans for Justice in 2021. She has been closely following the progression of the social studies review process: she served on a curriculum work group, helping to draft new lesson plans for Texas courses, and she testified twice in favor of Asian-American Studies at the Texas State Board of Education. When she found out that the vote was delayed to 2025, she said she was shocked. “This will affect our communities in a really deep, really negative way,” Trieu said. Board member Will Hickman said the delay of the review “allows board members more time to hear different ideas on next steps for Texas curriculum.” State Board of Education chairman Keven Ellis echoed Hickman’s sentiments, saying the added time for curriculum review would allow for the eradication of “woke”ness from Texas’ curriculum drafts. Other board members were disappointed with the outcome of the vote. Aicha Davis, State Board representative for Texas’ District 3, decried the motion, saying it undermined the work of groups who developed the curriculum last summer. The delay vote coincided with a letter to the State Board of Education from the Texas Freedom Caucus, a group of Republican lawmakers in the Texas Legislature, who threatened “legislative intervention” if the board went forward with the review process this year. With the November midterm election fast approaching, some, like senior Audrey Schwartz, said the vote was a political move: by delaying a “controversial” vote, Board members could have higher chances for re-election in November. “It’s a shame that children’s education is being compromised over a political point,” Schwartz said. Georgina Perez, secretary of the State Board of

Education, agreed. “Politics is supposed to be the service work that serves the people; this is politics serving the politicians,” Perez said. For some Native American and Asian American Texans, the delay of the curriculum updates is a disappointment. “I feel like an outsider, as if Asian-American history isn’t considered a valuable part of American history,” senior Olivia Park said.

What happens next? The November midterm election will determine the makeup of the Texas Legislature and the Texas State Board of Education, which will determine the ultimate fate of the next decade of Texas education. The delayed 2025 vote will define curriculum standards until 2035, and the composition of the Texas Legislature will guide future education-related bills. “This means that now is the time to vote,” Nicolette Ardiente, Texas Senate District 9 committeewoman, said. After the election, constituents will still be able to testify in front of the board and the legislature as soon as January 2023. During public testimony, constituents can share their perspectives on future paths for Texas education. “When we look to our future, it’s clear that education is the foundation for creating equity,” senior Olivia Park said. “We have to speak up.”

On the issues

Gun laws

Juliana Blazek and Zoya Haq, Jade Editors

Abortion

Beto O’Rourke said the abortion law currently in place in Texas is the “most extreme law in the country,” according to the New Yorker magazine. He plans to veto any more legislation that tries to restrict female autonomy, including Republican efforts to limit contraception access and the ability to travel out of state for abortions. He also said he plans to support healthy babies and family planning services by expanding Medicaid and increasing pregnancy Medicaid eligibility to one year postpartum. Greg Abbott said he plans to continue his restrictions on abortion. In 2021, he passed SB8, more commonly known as the “Heartbeat Bill.” This bill prohibits abortions when an ultrasound can detect a fetal heartbeat as defined by lawmakers, meaning it outlaws abortions after six weeks. Abortion providers or anyone who provides aid in getting someone an abortion can be sued. He also has increased funding for adoptive services and plans to prevent tax dollars in cities and counties from going to abortion.

Beto O’Rourke said he strongly advocates for what he calls “responsible gun ownership.” He wants to repeal Greg Abbott’s permitless carry and does not think any civilian should own an AR-15 or AK-47. He said he “hopes to close the private sale background check loophole.” Some of his stated plans for gun control include implementing a red flag law system, a safe storage and child access prevention law and stronger domestic violence reporting laws. During his time as Attorney General, Greg Abbott struck down a handgun ban when he championed the Supreme Court case District of Columbia vs. Heller. This decision protected the individual’s right to bear arms. He was also among the first attorneys general to challenge the Obama administration’s efforts to regulate guns through the United Nations. As governor, he signed “campus carry” and “open carry” into law. He plans to continue to fight any government action that tries to defy the Second Amendment.

Border security spending

Beto O’Rourke said he plans to focus on border enforcement that will create a solution. He wants to implement smarter technology, such as sensors, to detect crossings across the border and to help enforcement authorities with justified arrests. He also said he wants to encourage legal immigration through the development of a new guest worker program that will provide a way for immigrants to fill Texas labor shortages. In reforming the family reunification system, O’Rourke set a goal of reducing the amount of time it takes for U.S. citizens to legally bring in members of their family from other countries. According to O’Rourke, it is vital that the governor listen to the border communities and allow them to have the prominent say in reform. With a better legal way to get immigrants into the country, O’Rourke also said he wants to have additional processing capacity that will more efficiently screen immigrants for background checks to ensure that no one is a threat to the country. While in office, Greg Abbott has spent $4 billion dollars in protecting the border by sending state police and National Guard troops to help prevent trespassing by illegal immigrants, sending immigrants to state facilities under charges of trespassing and building 20 new miles of a wall protecting the border. He put into place “Operation Lone Star” with the goal of limiting illegal immigration and arresting those immigrants with a criminal past. Furthermore, Abbott recently passed an executive order that authorizes the Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety to return undocumented immigrants to the border. Abbott’s stated goal is to enable Texas citizens to feel more secure with having stricter border policies and reducing the number of gangs and violent crimes.

Beto O’Rourke

Immigration Beto O’Rourke said he wants a “safe, legal, orderly immigration system that meets the needs of our state and country.” According to the Houston Chronicle, he supports lifting the Title 42 pandemic-related border restrictions Biden put in place. He said Greg Abbott is wasting tax dollars on border security. He also said he plans to implement more smart technology and additional processing capacity at the border. He intends to put a family reunification system and a new guest worker program in place. Greg Abbott has signed what he calls “the toughest border security law of any state” to stop crime in Texas from drug cartels and human traffickers. On “Operation Lone Star,” he spent $30 million dollars to provide grants to cities seeking money to fight criminal activity related to border crossings. In the 2022-2023 budget cycle, Texas spent nearly $3 billion dollars on border security. He plans to sign legislation that will require state agencies to “E-verify,” ensuring that state money only goes to people eligible to work in the United States.

Education

The Texas gubernatorial election will shape the next four years of Texas policy. Learn about the posted stances of candidates Beto O’Rourke (D) and incumbent governor Greg Abbott (R) shared on their campaign websites.

Crime/Policing Beto O’Rourke said he does not want to defund the police, but wants to make sure the police have enough resources to perform their duty so the community can count on them. He said he wants the police to focus on arresting violent criminals and to aid social workers in helping the mentally ill and homeless. He further aims to prevent crime with more funding toward violence prevention and mental health services. In 2021, Greg Abbott signed laws that would punish cities if they cut funding for law enforcement, specifically the police. Abbott said he promotes full funding for the police and wants to support and protect them. He recently signed a law codifying it is a hate crime to assault an officer just on the basis of their uniform. In addition, Abbott launched anti-gang strike forces to limit the number of gangs and violent crimes.

Beto O’Rourke said he aims to fully fund Texas public schools, allowing teachers to have the resources and flexibility that they need in the classroom. He wants to put more public tax dollars toward the classroom to support both students and parents. To recruit more educators, O’Rourke plans to raise teachers’ salary and bolster health care and retirement benefits. Furthermore, he said he wants to end Texas’ reliance on standardized testing and instead focus on methods that will fix student learning gaps and provide instruction for teachers. While in office, Greg Abbott has passed initiatives to fund quality preschool education, math and literacy programs and “Read to Learn” programs. He has also worked to fully fund public schools, and in 2019, he helped increase public school funding by $5 billion. In May, Abbott announced he supports the proposal for “school choice” which will allow funding to follow students to their best fit school, whether that’s public or private. He said he aims to empower parents to choose the school that will be best for the child. Furthermore, Abbott said he wants to recruit more teachers and increase the amount of resources given to them.

Greg Abbott Photos: Creative Commons license

Consider the source Media literacy aids in navigating the news Aadya Kuruvalli, Opinions Editor and Alexandra Dassopoulos, Staff Writer Whether or not we are interested in it, politics and the media affect each of our lives. Bias, however, unconsciously seeps into the information we consume on a daily basis. According to Media Literacy Now, an organization dedicated to educating children on how to properly interpret media, biased sources perpetuate unconscious bias, because they ensure that childrens’ frame of reference for media and understanding of the world depends on what their parents relay from chosen news sources. Media Literacy Now covers a wide spectrum of media, advocating themes from understanding body image to encouraging global involvement. Their mission is to “decode media messages,” “assess the influence of those messages on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors” and “create media thoughtfully.” Teenagers can use media literacy to guide them toward understanding which sources to consult when making informed decisions and educated opinions.

t the beginning of the 21st century, technology evolved to include the creation of the internet and social media, which soon became the source of news and information. According to Pew Research Center, in 1995, 14% of U.S. adults had internet access. Today, eight in 10 Americans receive their news from online sources. Furthermore, Pew Research Center found that 40% of Americans aged 1829 read the news through social media in 2020. For teenagers, this number is even higher: a 2019 study conducted by Common Sense Media showed that around 54% of teenagers learn about the news through social media. Media literacy is a framework for analyzing and interpreting information from various sources of media, including television, newspapers, or online resources. With elections covered in the news, the media often becomes the outlet for information on candidates, political parties and views on issues. According to Pew Research Center, about 93% of Americans are digitally connected, providing a substantial audience for outlets like Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. The digital media age has allowed various news outlets to connect with this audience through such social media platforms. Sources such as The Washington Post and BBC have active TikTok accounts, while The

New York Times and The Guardian have cultivated millions of followers on Instagram. Fake news purposefully spreads disinformation, information that is deliberately biased and aimed to manipulate the audience. Disinformation often comes in the form of satirical websites, for example The Babylon Bee, according to New York Times. Although these media outlets aren’t intended to deceive, they can be harmful if viewers are unable to differentiate between satire and actual news. Sara Stoltz, Director of Communications at Hockaday, said while social media has its perks, its dangers in terms of misinformation are widespread. “The biggest change is social media and just the dissemination of information: it’s so much quicker, and there’s so many more platforms and the idea that everybody has a voice is great in theory, but it also amplifies a lot of voices that don’t have credibility, and it’s easier to spread disinformation,” Stoltz said. Technology also uses algorithms as a way to determine what types of content show up more frequently in people’s feeds. The Instagram or TikTok algorithm uses past “likes” to determine what content shows up on the For You page. Content related to just one video a user liked in the past can pop back up hundreds of times. Two-thirds of 3,446 American students in a 2019 Stanford

“While students may be digital natives, they are by no means wellequipped to navigate the incredibly fraught information landscape that they have inherited.” - Alan C. Miller, New Literacy Project CEO, in a NBC News interview in May

study could not discern the differences of news and ads on Slate Magazine’s website. They decided credibility based on graphic design, reinforcing the influence of visual media and the need for media literacy. Dr. Tom Johnson, a University of Texas at Austin professor, discussed the phenomenon of social media political campaigns in a recent interview with the Texas Orator. He described TikTok as a prominent media source for advancing misinformation due to its highly visual and emotional components, appealing to teens. “Anger and fear in particular can really mobilize people’s actions,” Johnson said.

“Republicans are much better at this visual propaganda than Democrats.” Developing media literacy is easier said than done. In the words of Alan C. Miller, New Literacy Project’s CEO, “While students may be digital natives… they are by no means well-equipped to navigate the incredibly fraught information landscape that they have inherited.” For many, it is a lifelong struggle to do this as sources and biases continue to shift, but the first step is understanding bias. The AllSides Media Bias Chart is one place to look for reliable sources.

Although most news outlets tend to report factual information, some facts may be snubbed in favor of a political ideology. News sources such as CNN, the New York Times and MSNBC tend to lean left, while others like FOX News, Daily Mail and the Washington Times lean right, according to the Pew Research Center. Neutral sources such as Reuters, BBC and The Wall Street Journal are more reliable for just-the-facts reporting, the center reports. To form an educated opinion, viewers should diversify media intake and make individual

decisions, rather than following what an anchor says. Reputable sources include official broadcasts and newspapers, but they can also include platforms on TikTok and Instagram. Some media organizations will link their sources after a post so viewers can consult the original material. When consuming secondary sources, it is beneficial to read the original sources to check for bias.

Graphics by Diya Hedge and Ava Shipp

Should social media be censored?

Harper Harris, Features Editor

In late September, the Fifth Circuit of Appeals court ruled that social media companies cannot censor posts based on political viewpoints. The court ruled censoring posts violates the First Amendment, even though social media platforms are private companies. Texas politicians including Attorney General Ken Paxton support the ruling, claiming it a victory for free speech and all Texans. Why do you believe social media should be able to censor what people post? There is a balance between free speech and over-censorship, and I think censorship is important when your speech is causing harm to other people. We need to know the limits of free speech. You can’t yell fire in a theater, so if you are on social media garnering support for illegal or dangerous activities, then it is very valid to censor that.

Is censorship on social media a violation of First Amendment rights? Whenever what we post harms other people, it is not violating the First Amendment to censor. But if you are just saying your opinions on politics or current issues, and that is to be censored, then that would be a violation. Is there a certain incident that comes to mind when you think about censoring political speech? I think of President Donald Trump on Twitter, and how he garnered a lot of support from the Proud Boys and white extremist groups on social media.

Junior Diya Hegde is involved in politics and keeps herself updated through social media and news websites. Hegde said she believes social media sites should be able to censor certain posts to a degree.

Why is social media an important tool when campaigning for election? About 20 to 30 years ago, to have a successful campaign you needed connections or money. With social media, politicians are able to access constituents without needing those things, so social media really evened the playing field.

Why do you believe social media should not be able to censor what people post? Social media is a public platform for the purpose of spreading and sharing information. Even if someone has offensive views, the question is: offensive to who? Who gets to decide what speech is offensive? Only illegal postings should be taken down and censored, not just posts the platform does not agree with. I believe that the answer to speech you don’t agree with is more speech, not censorship.

Is censorship on social media a violation of First Amendment rights? In general, censoring and removing content on a social media platform is a violation of our First Amendment rights. Although social media companies are not the government, they are the new “public square” and the courts have said that means speech is protected. No matter what we are discussing (as long as it is not illegal), anyone has the right to share their opinion and post whatever they like. Typically, content from the conservative or Republican point of view is taken down, censored or blocked much more than content from the left, which skews viewers’ opinions and does not always show them all of the facts available.

Is there a certain incident that comes to mind when you think about censoring political speech? During COVID, social media platforms removed many comments and questions that later turned out to be true, including content about masks and vaccines.

Why is social media an important tool when campaigning for elections? Social media is a very important tool because it allows direct interaction with candidates and removes the media filter from the process.

Junior Hayden Marchant is invested in politics and making sure speech is not censored. Marchant said social media is important to politics, but she thinks social media platforms should not be able to censor posts.

JADE | The Fourcast Magazine The Hockaday School 11600 Welch Road Dallas. Texas 75229 214.363.6311 Volume 6, Issue 1 November 2022

JADE is a magazine supplement to The Fourcast, The Hockaday School’s student newspaper. Magazine Editors: Zoya Haq and Juliana Blazek Staff Writers: Melody Hu, Jane Clark, Caroline Petrikas, Ambyr Baker, Bennett Trubey, Caroline Bush, Harper Harris, Melody Tian, Aadya Kuruvalli, Hanna Asmerom, Kailey Bergstedt, Anjy Fadairo, Alexa Munoz, Elle Myers, Amitha Nair, Danya RisamChandi, Elizabeth Truelove, Shreya Vijay, Alexandra Dassopoulos Faculty Adviser: Julia Copeland Editorial Policy: JADE Magazine is written primarily for students of the Hockaday Upper School, faculty and staff. JADE has a press run of 600 and is printed by Greater Dallas Press. It is distribtued free of charge to the Hockaday community. Businesses who wish to advertise in JADE should contact Melody Hu at mhu23@hockaday.org.We reserve the right to refuse any advertising which is deemed inappropriate to the Hockaday community. Opinions are clearly marked and are the expressed opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of The Fourcast staff, its adviser or any member of the Hockaday community. Any questions or concerns should be addressed to Zoya Haq or Juliana Blazek at zhaq23@hockaday.org or jblazek23@hockaday.org.