"How do politics enter into your classroom?"

A while back, I had the opportunity to write to some concerned parties who saw my public Facebook page and were concerned that I might let my classroom be too strongly influenced by politics. Here's that letter minus their context, which is a story I don't know. I'm posting this here because it's worth reading, and because I don't want to fall silent if it matters. It's so easy to live thoughtlessly, I partly want this here to remind myself of what matters to me, and how politics should and should not enter into my classroom.

Dear ---,

Many thanks for the invitation to express myself more fully, in light of my more politically-framed posts online. I like to share in writing and I believe it’s one of the most thoughtful ways to convey ideas for posterity, so I wish to thoughtfully address how my politics, as it were, affect my teaching.

I believe a classroom is a sacred space for discovery. I do not see it as a place to clutter with my opinions; nor would I condone practices that discourage discussion. The podium at the front is no pulpit, and I would not presume to educate on my particular views of justice in the world. It is enough for me to present the sources and allow students time and space to talk together, to talk with you, to think, to pray, and then to write, when appropriate.

When research and argument are part of the middle school ELA curriculum, what I hope my students learn is the value of all sides of an issue. In a Language Arts class, our focus is not which side of the argument to take, but rather how to do justice to all sides, how to interpret texts and scan for bias, how to mediate multiple ideas. Instead of seeing an argument as warfare (gaining and losing ground, defeating or winning, enemies and allies, etc.), I would prefer that we treat it as a dance in which the participants must respect and keep in step with others to accomplish a greater thing.

On a more personal level, my ideas as to what makes a Christian an obedient Christian are constantly changing. I have never interpreted my Christian walk through the lens of a political party, and am even now registered as “Independent,” for better or for worse, because no party represents the incarnate Kingdom of God: that’s the work and the joy of the global Church!

I affirm the Anabaptist conclusion that we belong to no empire of the world before we belong to the Kingdom of God. As our forebears in faith, I have a strong suspicion of all things relating to the military, to nationalism, to charismatic dogma, and to any attempts at polarizing discourse on complicated issues. I cherish all life, and hope to be ever more loving. I cherish the poor and under-served of our society, people in prison, people without work, people who are sick; and I hope to be ever more cherishing.

My hope is that any participation I may have in discussions of politics will always be with the immeasurable grace with which God has dealt with me. Furthermore, I understand discussions of politics in the classroom require extra restraint from me (and all teachers, to be sure) to avoid taking advantage of the incredible power a teacher has to influence young minds. I’m humbled by the challenge.

I invite discussion, accountability, and correction within a diverse community of people trying to figure out how to love God without standing still. That’s how I will know Jesus better, and that’s what matters to me most.

All My Best,
Carolyn McKalips