Election cycle - Do you believe that the candidates are counting on the lack of sophistication of the average voter - as Social Studies teachers what would you do?
There may be a lack of sophistication relating to the average voter, but do not believe that the campaign strategies rely on this fact. There is so much media attention given to every word uttered by each candidate and the sophistication of the campaign strategies that relying on the average voter’s lack of sophistication would be a major mistake. As a Social studies teacher the things that should be done is to view both sides, analyze each candidate’s strength and weaknesses, show each as much as possible an unpartisan view of each candidate. Platforms, negative strategies, advertisements, and campaign contributions must all be investigated to show the true candidate.
I believe that a lot of people feel overwhelmed by the overload of information that they recieve during political campaigns. As social studies teachers we need to help students learn the important skills of searching out truthful information, recognizing bias and applying knowledge of logical fallacies to judge the integrity of information. We also need to empower students by helping them see how they can make a difference. At this age students want more control over their lives but are limited by so many authorities: parents, teachers, school administrators, ect. This is a great time to allow students to have a voice and experiement with various ways of making themselves heard about topics that are of interest to them.
Political candidates of the past could rely on fancy words and big smiles for a vote, not now. No politician would undermine the modern voter’s mind frame by thinking a voter is not tuned in on issues. Modern technology has provided the ability for everyone to stay in touch with one another on a grand scale. With Internet blogging and chat rooms the average voter is exercising their brains about issues and expectations. I believe that the average person has answered the wake up call to become more active in the voting process. An informed voter makes a difference with their vote. Technology and 24 hour a day news coverage has helped create this type of voter.
I feel that voters today are looking for a person that knows what we want. A person that can deliver that. Someone who has been there done that. If that means the are not sophisticated voters than so be it. My opinion is that they are focused and deteremined, and they want someone like them. As for being a social studies teacher, I think I need to show them why and how voting impacts their lives today and how important it is that they stay involved in politics.
I agree that as teachers, this gives us a chance as educators to enlighten our students to the election process, the primary elections, the three different parties, and the change to "analyze each candidate’s strength and weaknesses". I believe that candidate's do not want individuals to know a whole lot about the process or them themselves as candidates. This is an advantage to them, however I do not believe that they strive on it. I agree that other candidates love and plaster mistakes of other candidates all over our media for their benefit and to get the attention of their downfalls out of the picture. I do not believe that these advertisements help candidates at all. Some individuals are even turned off by this type of character display.
I do not believe that political candidates rely on the lack of sophisitcation on the average voter. I think that things that political candidates talk about are just confusing to the average person for the most part becasue we do not think or know about these topics. (Well I don't anyways) I think as teachers it is our responsibility to learn these topics and teach our students hwo to understand the different topics and make their own opinions about the candidates.
6 comments:
There may be a lack of sophistication relating to the average voter, but do not believe that the campaign strategies rely on this fact. There is so much media attention given to every word uttered by each candidate and the sophistication of the campaign strategies that relying on the average voter’s lack of sophistication would be a major mistake. As a Social studies teacher the things that should be done is to view both sides, analyze each candidate’s strength and weaknesses, show each as much as possible an unpartisan view of each candidate. Platforms, negative strategies, advertisements, and campaign contributions must all be investigated to show the true candidate.
I believe that a lot of people feel overwhelmed by the overload of information that they recieve during political campaigns. As social studies teachers we need to help students learn the important skills of searching out truthful information, recognizing bias and applying knowledge of logical fallacies to judge the integrity of information. We also need to empower students by helping them see how they can make a difference. At this age students want more control over their lives but are limited by so many authorities: parents, teachers, school administrators, ect. This is a great time to allow students to have a voice and experiement with various ways of making themselves heard about topics that are of interest to them.
Political candidates of the past could rely on fancy words and big smiles for a vote, not now. No politician would undermine the modern voter’s mind frame by thinking a voter is not tuned in on issues.
Modern technology has provided the ability for everyone to stay in touch with one another on a grand scale. With Internet blogging and chat rooms the average voter is exercising their brains about issues and expectations. I believe that the average person has answered the wake up call to become more active in the voting process. An informed voter makes a difference with their vote. Technology and 24 hour a day news coverage has helped create this type of voter.
I feel that voters today are looking for a person that knows what we want. A person that can deliver that. Someone who has been there done that. If that means the are not sophisticated voters than so be it. My opinion is that they are focused and deteremined, and they want someone like them.
As for being a social studies teacher, I think I need to show them why and how voting impacts their lives today and how important it is that they stay involved in politics.
I agree that as teachers, this gives us a chance as educators to enlighten our students to the election process, the primary elections, the three different parties, and the change to "analyze each candidate’s strength and weaknesses". I believe that candidate's do not want individuals to know a whole lot about the process or them themselves as candidates. This is an advantage to them, however I do not believe that they strive on it. I agree that other candidates love and plaster mistakes of other candidates all over our media for their benefit and to get the attention of their downfalls out of the picture. I do not believe that these advertisements help candidates at all. Some individuals are even turned off by this type of character display.
I do not believe that political candidates rely on the lack of sophisitcation on the average voter. I think that things that political candidates talk about are just confusing to the average person for the most part becasue we do not think or know about these topics. (Well I don't anyways) I think as teachers it is our responsibility to learn these topics and teach our students hwo to understand the different topics and make their own opinions about the candidates.
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