15 Ways to Undo the Politicization of Natick Public Schools Classrooms

It's encouraging to see posters that say "All Views Welcome" displayed in the halls of Natick High School. Although this messaging promotes the student Politics Club, we strongly encourage Natick Public Schools to elevate this idea as its practiced approach to education throughout the district.

Unfortunately, too many students know their teachers' political views, and too many let that negatively influence their learning experience. NPS students are long overdue for an inclusive school culture and classrooms that embrace politically neutral spaces, enforce unbiased education, and welcome different (and especially unpopular) perspectives.

To help undo the politicization of NPS classrooms, we ask the NPS administration to enforce these 15 ideas and for educators to follow them:

15 Ways to Keep NPS Classrooms Neutral (and Foster Critical Thinking)

1. Enforce Policy IJ: Apply the current policy regarding instructional materials and education in the classroom, which are reflected in NPS Policy IJ. Teachers must present a balanced view of international, national, and local issues—past, present, and future.

2. Enforce Policy IMB: When teaching social and controversial issues, make sure teachers are not advocating for a certain political position. Teachers must ensure that the reasoned arguments of all sides of an issue are given equal presentation and emphasis in classroom discussions, which is mandated by NPS Policy IMB.

3. Impose Social Media Guidelines: Remind educators that students see their political posts on social media and to practice appropriate behavior as representatives of Natick Public Schools (it also helps for teachers to be good role models for children in the public square).

4. Focus on Critical Thinking: Encourage students to analyze multiple perspectives on issues rather than promoting a specific viewpoint or set of ideas in the name of diversity and social justice.

5. Adopt Diverse Curriculum: Incorporate a wide range of materials that represent various political ideologies and cultural perspectives, and abolish content that indoctrinates students in one belief system.

6. Encourage Respectful Dialogue: Teach students how to engage in respectful discussions and debates, including sharing ideas (even unpopular ones) without fear of retaliation.

7. Use Neutral Language: Educators should use neutral language when discussing political topics to avoid real or perceived bias and to help foster a truly welcoming environment for all students.

8. Invite Diverse Guest Speakers: Invite speakers from diverse political backgrounds to provide students with a broader understanding of issues related to curriculum.

9. Implement Student-Led Discussions: Facilitate student-led discussions where students can express their views without teacher bias or the popular opinions of classmates discouraging conversation.

10. Collect Anonymous Feedback: Survey students for their anonymous feedback on course materials and conversations to gauge their comfort levels and perceptions of bias in the classroom.

11. Enhance Professional Development: Provide training for educators on how to handle political topics in a balanced way and how to avoid students knowing their political positions and preferred political candidates.

12. Encourage Research Projects: Assign projects that require students to research and present on various viewpoints related to relevant political and social issues. Provide politically balanced topics to choose from.

13. Be Mindful of Biased Learning Aids: Avoid unbalanced political representations in classroom aids meant as learning tools or instructions for students. Don't use solely Democrat/liberal or Republican/conservative examples to demonstrate concepts.

14. Use Viewpoint-Inclusive Messages: Hang "All Views are Welcome" signs throughout NPS classrooms. Let students know at the beginning of the school year that diverse viewpoints are encouraged and there are no"wrong" beliefs/ideas that will impact a student's grade.

15. Remove Biased Signs/Messages: Establish guidelines that forbid teachers from displaying political messages or symbols that may intimidate students from sharing their real perspectives during classroom discussions or assignments.

Instead of the Natick School Committee passing proclamations and resolutions to make some students feel supported, all students would be best served by the district's full commitment to practicing "All Views Welcome" every day.

As a community, let's push for the depoliticization of district classrooms so all students can thrive in a rigorous and less restrictive Natick Public Schools learning environment .

Contact us confidentially to share what’s happening in your child's classroom, such as biased instructional materials, political classroom displays, or concerning communications.

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