To have gently told her she was wrong

[Calyrical]

Awkward one: about politics (sorry) but only indirectly.

An inexperienced teacher in my department announced brightly at lunch she had told some year 8s the party she was voting for and that's the one 'they should also vote for.' She listed the reasons she had given them.

I interjected and quite nicely but also firmly told her that she was wrong to have done so. I said it was unlikely anyone would complain but if they did her actions would be difficult to justify as we are in an influential position.

However I got quite a lot of grumbling and muttered 'well it's true!' remarks from other departmental members.

I'm 99% sure I was NOT BU.

But I will leave it to MN to decide.

Let me guess, she told them to vote for Labour?

Would people be laid back if she'd expressed support for UKIP and told pupils they should support UKIP too?

It's OK for teachers to talk about their personal views and values. It is most definitely not OK for them to tell their pupils they should share those beliefs.

With teens, I think all major viewpoints need to be presented, and then they can start considering the issues.

At primary school I think it's totally wrong. At secondary school then impromptu discussions often arise and is a good opportunity for debate. They are aware that people have different opinions. Now you can give yours.

I was asked today but wouldn't answer. Though they could probably guess who I'm not voting for from their lessons. I wouldn't tell them and I certainly wouldn't give reasons why that was the right idea - our dc's teacher made comments about her vote the other year and we almost complained to the school about her, so I think you are doing this teacher a favour by telling her not to.

Quite Edith

Nokidshere I hope I wasn't, but I certainly wasn't unpleasant or intense about it. However, had someone complained it would have been awkward to say the least.

Genuine question - do you think that 18 year olds voting for the first time are going to base their vote on what a teacher said to them 5 years ago. They aren't even going to remember and even if they did I give them enough credit to assume they'll think about their own views first

I thought teachers could not directly instruct or influence students to vote for a particular party.

Teachers shouldn't be impartial IMO. It's much better that they are open about their biases. I've had specific training in this as a history and politics teacher. It's not good practice to try to conceal your biases. Everyone has an opinion and it's difficult to give a truly disinterested and unbiased overview of party policies. I don't think teachers should be telling students who to vote for but I would always say who I've voted for and why and try to give an explanation for why some people disagree with me. Just today I had a conversation with a student where I explained trickle-down economics. I can't pretend to be unbiased so explained that I don't believe it works but also explained why some people do.

Just checked - there is no requirement to be neutral but it is advisable.

Agree she should have kept her leanings to herself. In the 2010 election I had the results page up on my board as my afternoon class came in and they started asking questions about what would cause a hung parliment - it was pretty obvious by this point that would be the outcome. So I spent a lesson explaining the system and why it came about (had spent the night before up watching results come in so had read up!), was frequently asked who I had voted for and refused to divulge. Pointing out we were discussing politics and the system in general and it was not my place to share my opinion - they needed to form their own.

Same for all elections since.

This class tried to guess based on the colour of top I was wearing - pointed out I had been in blue, red and orange that week!

Sandy, the issue isn't really whether or not they would be influenced to vote in a particular way. Otherwise no election propaganda would be allowed

It's because children are very likely to trust their teacher implicitly so stating things that are politically loaded or controversial in other ways ("abortion should be banned" for example, or, "I agree with the death penalty") is not professional because it could be seen to be using your position to influence.

We have a teacher at my school who makes his political bias very well known - all the kids and staff know this but he doesn't push his views on anyone.

Personally I try not to directly given my views but I think my facial expressions may give it away if the conversation is favouring a particular party! During the US election though I couldn't stop myself

My Y9s asked me today. I told them.

I agree. Teachers should be impartial, particularly in a high school environment.

YANBU

Maybe my dcs aren't typical and I'm basing my views on that but there is no way in the world they'd take any notice of a teacher's views on anything. They are teens who know everything about the world and are certain they know best , isn't that par for the course at that age?

But teachers aren't impartial. They should be open about their biases rather than trying to pass themselves off as impartial. We'll inevitably show it through facial expression or by the things we choose to focus on for example. I think it's really important to be open about our position without preaching or proselytising to the kids.

I don't think it's anyone else's business, to be honest.

LOL the Head of our school makes impassioned political speeches on every public occasion! School play / concert etc.

About beliefs about education (structure, funding and resourcing, curriculum, priorities etc etc) but the party political implication is clear!

It usually gets a resounding cheer throughout the hall.

I thought it was the law that teachers have to be impartial?
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/part/V/chapter/IV/crossheading/politics

She should have discussed with them the political process and the importance of voting, why in a democracy we vote in private because it's a free choice between yourself and the ballot box.
This is what my teacher God rest her soul discussed with us when I was in year 8. YANBU

It is AFAIK.

Surprised by how many have said their child's teachers are not!

Teachers should raise and encourage debate on politics and religion with their students but they should refrain from sharing their personal views. IMO its not professional in the workplace.

YANBU. It is unacceptable for teachers to be telling children who they "should" vote for, even if they were old enough to vote in the first place. That is not democracy. I am keeping off facebook today as there are so many people saying I should vote for this party (usually Labour) which even were I so inclined would send me in the opposite direction. No one has the right to tell anyone else how to vote and one persons reasons for voting for a particular candidate/party does not need justifying to anyone else.

They have to refrain from promoting partial views. Telling them how you are voting isn't "promoting". Telling them to vote that way is, and it is definitely wrong.