Students hold powerful, influential opinions and McNary’s staff are expected to support and value their voice whilst keeping student’s conversations safe and kind.

‍

Superintendent Christy Perry sent out a message to the SKPS family on Nov. 4. This email addressed how the Salem Keizer Public School’s staff will support students before and after the 2022 Midterm Elections. 

‍

“Anytime our school community encounters a moment of political consciousness — from elections to protests to news cycles — we are presented with both an opportunity and a challenge to support students in their civic engagement,” said Perry.

‍

Students like senior Logan Bowlby support teachers supporting students. “I think voting is one of the most central pieces in any functional democracy and supporting students in that decision, making processes and having access to that as I think it's crucial and so having a superintendent that supports that is really helpful, especially from a student's perspective, knowing that our leaders do support democracy. It is reassuring,” Bowlby said.

‍

Perry said as “tensions rise and when misinformation starts to flow,” educators have “an important role to play in supporting students who have questions.”

‍

Civic engagement is defined as promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes. SKPS are expected to value the process students go through while developing their political stance.

‍

“Civic engagement is a key part of every student’s educational journey, so they learn not what to think or which way to vote, but how to think critically about the information, choices, and issues presented to them,” Perry said.

‍

Perry states we need to teach students “how to discern between accurate reporting and misinformation, how to use technology in order to engage, and how to have healthy and respectful conversations with others about topics when not everyone agrees.”

‍

Students spend the majority of their time at school, school influences their perspectives and stances on issues. 

‍

Perry reminded SKPS the effect classrooms have on students: “Students’ introduction to healthy discourse and the democratic process is often in their classrooms; at the same time, we do not want our classrooms to be political battlegrounds.”

‍

Students converse the most whilst at school and these conversations should have the right motivation and direction.

‍

“Students are ready and excited to have productive conversations built on curiosity, learning, acceptance, and growth,” Perry said.

‍

Perry doesn’t want students spreading the wrong information nor being disrespectful to other people’s opinions. “We all want these conversations to be held safely, respectfully, and without vitriol or misinformation that is pervasive around us and online,” Perry said.

‍