President Joe Biden meets with Vice President Kamala Harris before a Rose Garden event celebrating National Small Business Week, Monday, May 1, 2023, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)
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July 21, 2024
New York City public schools teacher Sari Beth Rosenberg navigates what may feel like only the latest in a years-long series of unprecedented events, one after another. She lays out how she teaches current events to her students, including the importance of beginning with a vibe check of the room.
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President Biden just announced that he will not seek re-election and he will pass the torch to his vice president, Kamala Harris, endorsing Harris for president.
If you are a social studies teacher like me, you too are probably exhausted by covering what seems to be one unprecedented event after another.
In the last few years, I have had to:
So, now that we are here with President Biden not seeking re-election, one week after former President Trump's attempted assassination, I can’t help but think: Here we go again, another unprecedented event.
Although this is happening during summer break, like most social studies teachers I can’t help thinking about how I will discuss this topic with my students.
I have a few general protocols that I follow when discussing current events with them.
Although many of my students are super news consumers, most of them get their information in snippets. They see clips about the current news on TikTok and Instagram reels sprinkled between someone performing the Kamala Harris Coconut/Charli XCX mashup viral dance. Sometimes, they get a glimpse of news in memes that only give them a vague understanding of what’s actually happening. Think of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave; they see shadows of what is actually happening.
Therefore, it is important to get a sense of what students have been reading and watching before digging into the facts. I’d imagine that most of my students have seen clips from the debate as well as headlines about what transpired during the debate. And, of course, they all will have heard that President Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election.
Past events can only partially be used as a blueprint to determine what will happen in the current day. However, it is always important to introduce some similar moments in our nation’s past when discussing current circumstances. For one, it helps to remind students that they are not the first generation to contend with challenges. Additionally, students are much more enthusiastic about learning about the past when there is something tangible to connect to in their current lives—a history teacher’s dream!
It is important to first review the Electoral College with students to remind them how presidents are elected in this country. I love using the site 270toWin.com, and Share My Lesson has some great explainers as well.
Many historians are drawing potential comparisons between the current situation and the 1968 election: President Lyndon B. Johnson announced that he would not seek re-election even though he had only served for one term. When the leading Democratic candidate, Robert Kennedy, was assassinated, the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago (the 2024 Democratic Convention is also in Chicago!) became an open convention, also known as a brokered convention.
After reviewing the history, I would then share this helpful article with students that walks through various scenarios now that President Biden has decided to step out of the presidential race: If Joe Biden Drops Out, What Happens Next?
I would also connect President Biden’s decision to the ideals of our nation’s Founding Fathers. They believed in civic virtue, putting the nation over one’s personal interests. George Washington modeled himself after the Roman leader, Cincinnatus. Watch this video about this connection.
Once I walked through the details of the news and connected the dots for students, I would return to their initial impressions about it:
I would use this as an opportunity to have students audit their current news sources and determine which ones were helpful in understanding the current unprecedented event. Then I would have them interrogate which sources were not trustworthy and why.
It is important for us to remember the crucial role we play as educators in helping our students navigate through complex and challenging moments.
Explore the evolving landscape of U.S. politics with this timely lesson on President Biden's decision to withdraw from the campaign and endorse Vice President Harris. This lesson plan, video and slide deck provides a comprehensive look at the implications of this significant political move, engaging students in critical thinking and discussion about the electoral process, leadership, and the impact on future policies.
It is important for us to remember the crucial role we play as educators in helping our students navigate through complex and challenging moments. It is why the “divisive concepts” laws that many states have already passed are so damaging. Teachers play a key role in providing students with a space to engage in critical conversations and analysis of current events. Especially as we seem to bounce from one unprecedented event to the next.
Challenging times call for classrooms where young people are empowered with knowledge so they can emerge as the next leaders navigating the bumpy ride of history.
Explore our election resources to engage your students in learning about the election process and its significance at every level. Discover lessons on election fundamentals, laws, security, current events, youth involvement, and historic U.S. elections.
