Supporting Students During Election Cycle Stress
The election can be a stressful time for our students. We asked the youth we work with how schools can help support them during the election. They talked about the importance of having choice and described two spaces that would feel supportive during the week of the election:
A space for learning and discussion. Students might have questions about the impact of the results, how voting and the electoral college work, what kind of advocacy they can do, etc. They may want to discuss how they are feeling, how the election has been portrayed on social media, or what changing the voting age might look like. It’s okay if you don’t know the answer!
A space to release tension and have fun. Young people may feel a lot of stress and anxiety at this time and need a space to unwind and know that they have an empathetic and compassionate community to hold them.
Alex Shevrin Venet of Unconditional Learning generously shared some trauma-informed considerations:
One of the features of trauma is a sense of powerlessness. Young people who are not yet able to vote may feel very powerless as adults make voting decisions that impact their futures. We can support students by reconnecting them to their agency: What are the ways they do have influence over the future of their communities? How can they be involved in civic life regardless of voter status? Help students step into their own power!
Young people’s emotional wellbeing is directly connected to the emotional wellbeing of the adults around them. The best thing you can do to support students during times of stress is to manage your own stress. Take time to process your own emotions about the election outside of school so you can be present for your students.
Stress isn’t always trauma, and teacher/other adult support can make the difference. Young people can move through stress more easily when they are given opportunities to notice and name their feelings, make sense of what is causing the stress, and experience a supportive community. Even if conversations about the election feel difficult, it’s important to create space for them so students can process what they’re feeling. And find ways to express support and care for all students during stressful times to emphasize that they are not alone and you’ve got their backs.
Processing emotions related to politics can be nuanced. For example, a student may be feeling deep fear, but you recognize that some of the fear is based on unfounded or exaggerated claims by politicians. How might you validate their real emotions while also teaching information literacy? When is the right time to listen and when is it time to challenge? Don’t try to go it alone as you navigate the nuances. Collaborate with fellow teachers and with school counselors and other mental health and wellness staff.
Other resources for educators and school leaders
The Broken Copier - Teaching Through an Election (15-minute podcast)
Emily Gilmore and Christie Nold’s workshop on “Teaching in the Days After” from the Rowland Conference
Speaking Out Against Bigoted, Dehumanizing Rhetoric: What Can We Do
