The Attack on the Capitol and Other Challenging Moments: Talking with Students
January 13, 2021 / Bill Reynolds, PhD / Tags: capitol, election, teaching resources
As the Capitol was attacked last week, educators struggled to find words to explain to their students what was happening. As an educator, having the capacity to explain an assault on democracy while managing one’s own emotions is no small feat. We need immediate responses to current events, but we need to also look long-term at how teachers and school communities can be leaders in facilitating dialogue on challenging topics like antiracism and white privilege. Educators wear many hats, but schools and school leaders are uniquely positioned to be public diplomats by applying discourses of peace and reconciliation processes and public diplomacy to educational spaces.