Poli-ticks

Two approaches to a civics lesson

By Arlene Violet
Posted 3/26/18

As 7000 pairs of shoes were laid out on the grass of the U.S. Capitol as a symbol of the number of children killed by gun violence since the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook School, students from at least …

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Poli-ticks

Two approaches to a civics lesson

Posted

As 7000 pairs of shoes were laid out on the grass of the U.S. Capitol as a symbol of the number of children killed by gun violence since the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook School, students from at least 12 Rhode Island schools protested on March 14 as an act of solidarity with the victims of the Valentine’s day slaying at a high school in Parkland, Florida. Some of the walkouts lasted for 17 minutes to commemorate the 17 students and teachers slain while others brought their message of curbing gun violence to the state house.

The reaction from the professional education community was mixed. Most Rhode Island school districts followed the guidance of the state department of education and opted to treat the demonstrations as a civics lesson. Students were able to determine the style and content of their efforts while the schools set limits to insure safety. Still in other districts like Providence the students were told that there would be sanctions for the walkout. There was an obvious disconnect in these latter districts. They blew a teachable moment. The pros and cons of gun ownership of any kind, the Second Amendment, and discussion of sensible curbs on ownership of guns were blown off. It’s too bad.

Needless to say, unadulterated gun advocates excoriated the youths and their teachers who participated. In the Providence Journal, commentors jabbed against “liberal teachers” indoctrinating students with their own point of view. Of course, it never occurs to them they they may be brainwashed also.

It is striking how people cannot set aside their own viewpoint regarding an issue like gun ownership to listen to the other side of the argument. We all have to live together. Do we have one group of perfect people who get to dictate to the “dopes” what they should believe or not? Regardless of where an individual’s viewpoint is on such matters as raising the age to own a rifle from 18 to 21, banning bump stocks, curbing the sale of automatic weapons etc., we’d be a far better country if we just tried to understand a different point of view without ripping apart the person on the other side of the matter.

In any event, shouldn’t we be happy that students are motivated enough to be in the public process? I praise them for their involvement. It gives the public a chance to mull over what they have to say and to challenge by civil discourse as opposed to name-calling nuances of arguments the “opponent” thinks might have been missed.

Isn’t that how democracy is supposed to work? Some readers probably protested the Vietnam War. Others thought the United States belonged in Southeast Asia. Don’t demonstrations raise issues for us to debate? Isn’t the First Amendment at least as important as the Second Amendment?

We do not foster democracy by demonizing those who hold an opposite position. Dialogue not deprecation must remain a mainstay of this country if it is to remain one nation. The demonstrations should be a lesson for all to stop yakking and to listen to each other. The education community needs to step up to the plate and use the March 14 protest to continue discussion, including those with opposite views, to engage the students. Otherwise, civics lessons are empty exercises.

Arlene Violet is an attorney and former Rhode Island Attorney General.

Arlene Violet

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.