The Power of Participation: Why Voting Matters for Educators and Students
Voting is an essential civic duty that educators must exemplify, as it profoundly influences both students and the community at large. Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, articulates the transformative power of participation in democratic processes, emphasizing that voting is not merely a right but a vital lesson in leadership and social responsibility. In this discourse, we reflect on how educators can instill the significance of civic engagement in their students, thereby nurturing informed and active citizens. By prioritizing participation, we reinforce the notion that every voice matters, fostering a culture of hope and community pride. Ultimately, our role as educators transcends mere curriculum delivery; we are tasked with cultivating a generation that understands and values the importance of their participation in democracy.
The discourse articulated by Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, delves into the pivotal significance of voting, particularly as it pertains to both educators and students. This reflection emerges from the backdrop of a school district's early dismissal on Election Day, highlighting the intrinsic value of civic participation. Mr. Kleve posits that voting transcends being merely a right; it embodies a profound lesson in leadership, community engagement, and the nurturing of hope. By modeling civic responsibility, educators can instill in their students a sense of agency and the importance of their voices within the democratic process. He emphasizes that when educators actively participate in elections, they not only validate the democratic process but also serve as exemplars of critical thinking—encouraging students to consider the implications of their choices and the broader impacts on their communities.
Moreover, Mr. Kleve asserts that civic engagement is interwoven with the educational mission, as informed citizens do not materialize by mere happenstance. He urges educators to seize the opportunity to educate their students about the voting process, fostering discussions that emphasize the importance of participation without delving into partisan politics. This approach not only enriches students' understanding of democracy but also cultivates a culture of responsibility wherein students recognize that their voices, regardless of their voting age, possess significance. The episode culminates in a call for educators to inspire and empower the next generation, reminding them that each vote can create ripples of change, thus shaping a future that mirrors their values and aspirations.
Takeaways:
- Voting serves as a pivotal demonstration of civic engagement, reinforcing the notion that every voice contributes to the collective decision-making process within a community.
- Educators play a crucial role in modeling civic responsibility, thereby instilling in students the importance of active participation in democratic processes.
- The act of voting transcends mere obligation; it cultivates leadership qualities and fosters a sense of belonging within the community.
- Engaging students in discussions about voting encourages them to recognize the significance of their voices, even prior to reaching voting age.
- Through the lens of education, we can connect civic engagement with classroom learning, thereby enhancing students' understanding of their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
- Voting days provide a unique opportunity to reinforce the concept that schools function as civic centers, highlighting their integral role in the democratic process.
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Companies mentioned in this episode:
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Transcript
Yeah, he's Mr. Funky.
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Speaker B:This is Mr. Funky Teacher with Be a Funky Teacher dot com.
Speaker B:I'm coming to you with another Be a Funky Teacher podcast.
Speaker B:Welcome back, everyone.
Speaker B:Today's episode is the Power of Participation.
Speaker B:Why Voting matters for Educators and Students.
Speaker B:So let's talk about why it matters when we take time to show up, not just for our students, but for our communities.
Speaker B:However, before we get into it, let's talk about three things that I'm thankful for.
Speaker B:First thing that I'm thankful for is is the freedom to vote.
Speaker B:The the right to have a voice is something many people in the world still fight for or don't have at all.
Speaker B:Taking time to vote reminds us of the power we hold to shape the future, especially for our students.
Speaker B:Every ballot is an act of hope, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:Second thing I'm thankful for.
Speaker B:Beautiful stars in the sky.
Speaker B:Now there's something grounding around.
Speaker B:Looking up at the vast night sky after a long day, it reminds us that we're part of something bigger.
Speaker B:A community, a country.
Speaker B:A shared story I love those beautiful stars in the sky.
Speaker B:I'm also the third thing I'm thankful for, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:I'm thankful for the quiet just before sunrise.
Speaker B:That call.
Speaker B:There's just that calmness in the world right before it wakes up.
Speaker B:And it.
Speaker B:There's something about that reset for the mind and soul that I. I love.
Speaker B:And it's a reminder that even the noise of teaching in life, reflection can that moment of pause, that moment of reflection can it feels purpose, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:Well, let's get into the main topic, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:Why voting matters for educators and students.
Speaker B:So first thing, why voting matters for educators.
Speaker B:See, education and democracy are deeply linked, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:Informed citizens don't happen by accident, do they?
Speaker B:It just does.
Speaker B:It's just not like it's magically there.
Speaker B:When teachers vote, it models civic engagement and it also models critical thinking because we have to think about, like when we're voting, we have to think about the best option, who we're voting for, why it's the best option, how it can impact our lives, our community members lives.
Speaker B:And students.
Speaker B:Notice when adults take participation seriously.
Speaker B:It teaches that voices matter.
Speaker B:It does our voices matter.
Speaker B:And it teaches students that voices matter.
Speaker B:Even if our students aren't old enough to vote yet, it teaches them that voices do matter.
Speaker B:And I like to, it's important for me to bring in leading by example.
Speaker B:You don't have to discuss politics to discuss responsibility.
Speaker B:I, I spent a lot of time as an educator talking about the process of voting, about, hey, researching, showing up and, and making our voice and our, our, our vote count, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:I, I don't tell students.
Speaker B:Like, one conversation I won't have is I'm not gonna stand there and tell students who I vote for or why one candidate is a good option.
Speaker B:Why one candidate.
Speaker B:That's not my place to do that.
Speaker B:But my, my place is to teach students about the process and why it's important to be a part of the process.
Speaker B:That is critically important.
Speaker B:And I encourage students to ask questions about how voting works.
Speaker B:Not, not once again, not who to vote for.
Speaker B:That's not what this is about here.
Speaker B:And try to share with the excitement of participating, not the division of sides.
Speaker B:That's not what it's about here.
Speaker B:When we talk to students about voting.
Speaker B:Also the celebrating community moments when.
Speaker B:See when this, when the district.
Speaker B:So let me back up just a little bit here.
Speaker B:My, my school district yesterday, they let us out early to go vote.
Speaker B:They let the.
Speaker B:The whole school district was dismissed at one o' clock yesterday, which I think was wonderful.
Speaker B:Students and staff alike could leave at 1 o' clock yesterday.
Speaker B:And the thinking was, hey, let's go.
Speaker B:So the adults in the building could go vote, go back where they live here in Winnebago or they live in another community.
Speaker B:It's important.
Speaker B:They prioritize and think it's very important to vote.
Speaker B:And so they create that space so we can.
Speaker B:And so when the district dismissed early, so staff and student.
Speaker B:Staff and students who are 18, if you're 18, if you're a student, because we, we have.
Speaker B:This is a K through 12 building here.
Speaker B:It's there.
Speaker B:So there are some students who are 18 who are able to vote.
Speaker B:That sends a strong message that community matters.
Speaker B:See, voting days remind us that schools are more than buildings.
Speaker B:If you do voting actually in the building, there's civic centers Where.
Speaker B:Where people can cast vote, but they're also.
Speaker B:Even if you don't have.
Speaker B:In my community, we do it and we do voting in a.
Speaker B:Like a community center.
Speaker B:And sometimes the school is the community center for.
Speaker B:For voting, but even it's still a community center or it's like a civic center because it's where people gather to.
Speaker B:We're teaching people about the importance of voting.
Speaker B:And then whether the voting takes place in the building or outside of the.
Speaker B:Outside of the building in another place, it's.
Speaker B:It's still a reminder that these buildings matter.
Speaker B:They are part of this, the civic process, the process where we're building better tomorrow through the voting process.
Speaker B:And it's a shared experience through a teachable moment that I think is extremely powerful, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:And so if we just breeze through, like a voting day and don't really take it, take that moment to really teach our students about it, it's a missed opportunity.
Speaker B:And it might not be a big election year, but we still have to.
Speaker B:For the students that we work with, it's a missed opportunity.
Speaker B:I think if we don't talk about it and why it's important to go vote, if there is a vote option that is available, that's going to impact our community in some way.
Speaker B:And so seeing the schools as civic centers, as.
Speaker B:As civic centers that teach students about the process of voting.
Speaker B:And then once again, sometimes it's the.
Speaker B:The schools are hubs where community members can vote here, maybe it's somewhere else, but it's.
Speaker B:So that whole.
Speaker B:The whole process is so important, y', all, and connecting, you know, so let's think about connecting civic education.
Speaker B:I'm sorry, Civic engagement.
Speaker B:I. I was tripping my word.
Speaker B:Tripping over my words there.
Speaker B:Let's talk about connecting civic engagement, y', all, to classroom lessons.
Speaker B:If we do this, I encourage you to tie real world participation to classroom concepts.
Speaker B:Like in social studies, you can link.
Speaker B:You can link like voting day, Election day, to rights and responsibilities as a social studies lesson.
Speaker B:See, in writing, you can talk.
Speaker B:You can tie it into persuasive essays on causes that matter to students, not causes that matter to you as a teacher.
Speaker B:Causes that matter to students.
Speaker B:Huge opportunity for writing.
Speaker B:In math, you can have students analyze voting data or turnout trends.
Speaker B:What a huge opportunity that that is.
Speaker B:See this, this builds relevance because we want to make it.
Speaker B:We want to make voting relevant, right?
Speaker B:And so this.
Speaker B:This builds relevance and curiosity around how our democratic voting system works.
Speaker B:And it's so important to model hope over cynicism to young People see plenty of negativity about politics.
Speaker B:What they need to see is faith in progress.
Speaker B:So as educators, if we can talk about how every generation has pushed things forward through participation, that can be extremely powerful.
Speaker B:And we got to remind students that we don't just teach curriculum.
Speaker B:We teach courage.
Speaker B:We teach voice.
Speaker B:We teach choice.
Speaker B:That's what we're doing here.
Speaker B:And so teaching students about the power of hope over cynicism is such an important role that we have in education.
Speaker B:And I know that can be hard to do without talking about certain candidates or talking about certain.
Speaker B:Certain individuals who might be in certain places of power or leadership right now or in the past or possibly in the future.
Speaker B:We have to keep that separate, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:We.
Speaker B:We have to keep that separate.
Speaker B:We.
Speaker B:And we have to.
Speaker B:It's important to talk more about that process once again, versus our own political opinions.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:It's so important to teach students to be involved in.
Speaker B:In the political process.
Speaker B:That's where.
Speaker B:That's our role as educators, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:And so let's talk about gratitude for the privilege, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:See, not everyone before us had the right.
Speaker B:Many have fought for the right to vote.
Speaker B:So it's so critically important to take a moment to vote, to honor those sacrifices and to share with students, hey, I voted.
Speaker B:Not who I voted for, but that I voted and that I thought it was important enough to be a part of the political process.
Speaker B:See, I encourage y' all to encourage gratitude, not apathy.
Speaker B:Have the mindset that turn.
Speaker B:That transforms civic duty into community pride.
Speaker B:We just don't want it to be just a civic duty.
Speaker B:I mean, we want students to feel like, yeah, it is a civic duty.
Speaker B:It's a duty and responsibility, but it's also a point of community pride.
Speaker B:And when we can instill that in young people that, hey, when you are 18, you get this opportunity to vote and be a part of this process that can be very empowering to young people, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:My daughter's 17.
Speaker B:She's in one year, she's going to be able to vote, and I'm so excited for that for her, not because of the idea of if she and I will vote the same way or not.
Speaker B:And that's okay.
Speaker B:We don't have to vote the same way.
Speaker B:But I want her to be engaged in the political process and.
Speaker B:And to do critical thinking, and for her to vote for the causes and the people that she feels strongly will impact our community for the better.
Speaker B:That's what this whole thing is all about.
Speaker B:Y' All.
Speaker B:So whether it's a local school board race or a national election, each vote is a ripple.
Speaker B:As teachers, we're shaping the next generation who will cast those ripples further.
Speaker B:Our students won't remember who we voted for because we don't have a place actually to share those.
Speaker B:So they're not going to remember that because we shouldn't be sharing that.
Speaker B:But they'll remember, more importantly about the process and the process we talked about.
Speaker B:They'll remember.
Speaker B:Students will also remember that we voiced that it's important to show up.
Speaker B:That's important to.
Speaker B:That we cared enough about the community, about society that.
Speaker B:That we cared enough to show up to vote.
Speaker B:And that'll plant that seed in their head that, hey, you know, Mr. Cleave said it was important to vote.
Speaker B:And we talked about that.
Speaker B:I remember we're talking about that in fifth grade.
Speaker B:That's what we should be doing here, and that's leadership, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:Quiet, consistent, deeply human in this process of taking this.
Speaker B:This responsibility that we have to vote as adults and.
Speaker B:And transcending what the.
Speaker B:The challenges and obstacles that we face to make it meaningful, relevant, and purposeful for the young people that we're entrusted to teach.
Speaker B:That's powerful.
Speaker B:So I do hope you will talk about the power.
Speaker B:Importance of voting in the classroom, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:I do, because voting matters for educators and for our students.
Speaker B:Well, I hope you found value in this episode.
Speaker B:If you did, jump on over to Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to your podcast and hit me up with a five star and let me know what you think.
Speaker B:Thank y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:And I want you to remember to inspire greatness in young people.
Speaker B:And don't forget to be a funky teacher.
Speaker B:Bye, now.
Speaker A:He's Mr. Funky Teacher yeah he's Mr. Funky Teacher yeah, yeah, yeah.
