I just taught an eight-week class in journalism to middle-school students at a Denver parochial school. When the kids were discussing what to put in their newspaper, I suggested a no-brainer: an editorial page, containing arguments for the major party presidential candidates, and an endorsement based on a class vote.
Without hesitation, two students volunteered to speak on behalf of Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama.
“Obama is for the environment,” said one.
“McCain will help us develop new sources of energy,” offered the other.
“Obama won’t raise our taxes.”
“McCain will create more jobs and fix the economy.”
It was impressive. The advocates were eloquent and informed, confident and self-assured, more so than in any other class discussion. The majority of the students were attentive, asking intelligent and thought-provoking questions.
And, just like most adults in this election, most everyone had a strong opinion.
The oldest kid in this class was 13. At their age, I was cutting pictures of David Cassidy out of Tiger Beat magazine, ogling the buff Dave Bombalicki across the field at summer camp, making slam books and annoying everyone by constantly twanging the rubber bands on my braces. Politics? Pish. While the turbulent ’60s raged around me, I was mostly oblivious.
Not today’s kids. I was awed by what transpired in that class and proud of their participation. (The endorsement vote, by the way, was 10-6. Does it really matter who won?)
Later, one student offered to do a poll on whether kids should get to vote. Great idea; from what I had heard, this generation was well on its way to earning that responsibility.
But the following week in class, I found out the student who spoke for McCain had been taunted for his views by some Obama fans on the playground. (OK, so maybe they’re not ready to vote just yet.)
What they are ready for, undoubtedly, is a lesson in tolerance. This election is a perfect one for that, no matter how it ends up. Tolerance for another political view, religion, race or gender. Teach them to look beyond the religious fear-mongering, beyond the sexist jokes about Hillary Rodham Clinton and now Sarah Palin. Beyond the racist venom spewed by ignorant lugs carrying stuffed monkeys. Beyond the ageist slams chuckled over by late-night talk-show hosts.
Our children are without a doubt becoming the best-informed generation in history. They have the world at their fingertips via a keyboard. We had ABC, NBC and CBS (and they each signed off every night with the national anthem).
Over the past few months, kid network Nickelodeon produced a series of election- themed episodes, held a primary and conducted an online poll, “Kids Pick the President.” More than 2.2 million votes were cast. That’s a powerful soon-to-be-voting bloc.
Websites such as kidsturn provide links to a wide variety of kid-friendly sources on the political process. They are bombarded with information.
So they’re growing up fast and forming their own ideas and opinions much sooner than we did.
And yet, like generations before, the first place they’ll turn to help them make sense of all that input is their parents. They’ll hear Mom screaming at the TV during the debates or see Dad’s bumper sticker. They’ll pick up on the passion and try on their parents’ beliefs for size.
But do your kids a favor: When they start asking about politics and issues, tell them about both sides in as simple terms as possible. Don’t present a bias toward one candidate or issue. If they ask for your opinion, let them know why your choice is good for you, but that it may not be for someone else.
Give them the skinny on inaccuracies, however.
If they are told that one candidate wants to take guns away from U.S. citizens, for example, tell them about the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution and help them find data on where the candidates stand on that issue.
Nurture your kids’ interest in civics and in who is leading our nation, but don’t pressure them or make them feel guilty about their choices. It’s OK if they choose your ex-hus- band’s candidate rather than your own. Just push them to start thinking for themselves and forming their own opinions rather than mimicking someone else’s.
But the most critical thing you can do for your kids is to teach them about tolerance for other points of view, about different ideas of what it takes to be a leader.
Then whichever candidate wins, show your kids that we can unite behind the candidate who comes out on top — and that a smart loser realizes that this game is just too critical to walk away from in a snit like a bully on a playground.
Barbara Ellis is the Denver Post’s editoral page news editor: 303-954-1751 or bellis@denverpost.com.
