Teaching Across the Political Divide: Civic Education in an Era of Intense Polarization

Diana E. HessSenior Vice President , Spencer Foundation Professor, University of WI-Madison

Questions

What is political polarization? Why is the US so politically polarized? What happened in the November

election that is important for teachers to understand?

How does political polarization create barriers to high quality civic education?

What might we do differently?

What is Political Polarization?

Political polarization refers to moments in time when political discourse and action bifurcates toward ideological extremes, causing a crowding out of voices in the middle, leaving little room for political compromise.

The Story of Political Polarization

ConservativeLiberal

ConservativeLiberal

Movement toward ideological extremes

Income Inequality and Political Polarization

ConservativeLiberal

Effects of Ideological Sorting

Ideological sorting is happening residentially, and in our social spheres.

When we talk with people who agree with us, our views tend to move toward the extremes.

One result is a more active, but also more hostile, political sphere.

The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America Is Tearing Us Apart

Red = 70% RepBlue = 70% Dem

The Big Sort, 2008

Red = 70% RepBlue = 70% Dem

The Big Sort, 2008Correcting for population

2012 Presidential General Election - Colorado

Why the Big Sort is good and bad for democracy

People are able to only interact with people and read material that support their views.

= Ideological amplification = less tolerant public, but more likely

to vote/participate

Conversation with people who disagree

Response Percent

1 – Not at all 31.5

2 17.5

3 12.5

4 11.5

5 8.9

6 6.4

7 3.7

8 – Very Frequently

4.9

“Talked about news and current events with people who disagree with you”

Distrust

For the past 6 consecutive elections, youth have voted Democratic, but there is still significant Republican support.

Youth Voters & TurnoutPresidential Election

Source: CIRCLE, http://www.civicyouth.org

General Election Youth Turnout in Colorado

40%52

%50%

Polarization in Youth Vote by Age and Race

Young Voters in Colorado

(ages 18 to 29)2008 2004 2000 1996

Young Voters Party Identification

Democratic Party 26% 26% 37% 27%

Republican Party 26% 37% 27% 40%

Independent 30% 29% 27% 28%

Political Ideology of Young Voters

Liberal 13% 27% 36% 28%Moderate 45% 42% 45% 46%Conservative 42% 31% 20% 26%

Vote Choice

Democratic Candidate 50% 51% 46% 49%

Republican Candidate 48% 47% 41% 39%

Other Candidate 2% 2% 13% 13%

Latino Vote in 2012 Presidential Election

In Colorado, Obama carried the Latino vote by a wide margin—75% to 23%. The president’s performance among Latino voters in Colorado was better than in 2008, when Obama won the Latino vote 61% to 38%. Hispanics made up 14% of Colorado voters this year, up from 13% in 2008.

US Support for Social and Fiscal Issues

What does this mean for teachers?

Schools are institutions experiencing growing public distrust.

Teachers’ political views under scrutiny.

In many schools, it is much harder to engage students in high quality, non-partisan civic education.

Is it in your school?

Open vs. Closed Issues

No one right answer - would expect disagreement and teachers would aim for multiple and competing views, best care-fair hearing of competing points of viewQuestion for which there is a rightanswer that teachers want students to build and believe

Open Issues:

Closed Issues:

What Might We Do?

Don’t abandon the project. Schools a good place for non-partisan political education.

Activate the differences you have. Choose questions and topics

carefully (open political and ethical questions).

Play fair. Don’t encourage/model the values of polarization.

Make the case to the public, parents, school board members, and administrators.

The Political Classroom

What is the Political Classroom?

The political classroom is one that helps students to develop their ability to collectively make decisions about how we ought to live.

Democracy is a Verb

Presidential Debate Viewing

Students have a viewing session of the first Presidential Debate sponsored by their school.