When a teacher shares news with a class whether it’s a current event or introducing a historical event, they have to be strategic about it. Whether they are starting a new unit and speaking of anything historical or discussing a current event, the teacher has to come from a point of view that does not sound biased or controversial. This requires the teacher to have some time to think before presenting the news, making them find a way to share their opinion without imposing it on another student.
Every teacher has a strategy for breaking news to a class. Math teacher Jenna Roebuck decides to take the safe route. Roebuck waits for instruction from the administration, to have her say the correct statement, making sure she doesn’t come off as biased in a certain situation.
“I don’t share any information about it until I get direction from administration,” Roebuck said. “That way I avoid any sort of opinion that these kids think I might have about it. I just follow the directions strictly from administration.”
From a student’s point of view, It’s important that when a teacher shares information with the class, they don’t impose any opinion. If they do, it can feel like that teacher wants the students to agree with them, to be on the teacher’s side of a situation or topic. Elizabeth Wortman ’26 feels that teachers should share both sides of the story, laying all facts to the students and allowing the students to decide how they want to take the situation.
“Mr. Palen was good at not making things controversial by making his viewpoints broad and sharing both sides of the story,” Wortman said.
When in doubt it is important to wait until the administrators have given the teachers direction, making it safe for both students and the teacher, avoiding an awkward situation in the classroom. History teacher Meg Pierce relates to Roebuck by waiting until further instruction from the administration is given.
“If I am speaking on a certain topic, it would have to support the curriculum and ask the students to come to their conclusions,” Pierce said.
Many believe that communicating news by teachers in a classroom is crucial for creating a respectful learning environment for the students. Teachers who can create a space where students can discuss a topic with diverse perspectives allows students to form their own opinions based on unbiased information from the teacher, making the students feel like they want to contribute to class and feel comfortable. When a teacher handles a topic with consideration, they create a richer experience for the students that requires open-minded thinking.
“It’s important that a teacher makes their viewpoint on a current event or event in history not biased and shares both sides, giving students the opportunity to understand themselves,” Wortman said.
