It was mortifying when last week’s Republican debate introduced the question of whether it was appropriate for one presidential candidate to accuse another of wetting his pants. But the final straw for Gary Goyette and Andrea Todd, who were watching at home in Sacramento with their 10-year-old son, was Donald Trumps’s boast about his sexual endowment.
“We were just incredulous,” Ms. Todd said, when Mr. Trump declared that there was “no problem” with that part of his anatomy. She and her husband looked at each other, she recalled, and then looked at their son. “Gary said, ‘Tommy, you’ve got to leave — you’ve got to get out of here.’ And Tommy got up and ran out of the room.”
Many strange things have happened so far in the Republican presidential race. But this election, with its rudeness and bullying has also presented adults with an unexpected, unpleasant dilemma: How do they explain Donald Trump to children?
“Quite frankly, it’s been quite embarrassing when I have an 11-year-old who is better behaved and more polite than some people who are the potential next leaders of our country,” said Maury Peterson, who runs Parenting Journey, a nonprofit group in Somerville, Mass., that provides support for families. “This name-calling and making fun of people is basically the opposite of what he’s been taught at home and at school.”
Kathy Maher, a sixth-grade teacher in Newton, Massachusetts., said that election years usually presented an excellent opportunity for students to observe the virtues of the American democratic process. But this year, she said, she worries about mock-debate season, when someone will have to play Trump. If Trump was a student, he would be sent straight to the principle's office.
Maher's school has a program encouraging students to speak up if they see someone being mistreated, and for that reason she has felt obligated to address the subject of Trump.
“I try really hard, when we discuss politics, to take a balanced view,” she said. “But I felt I had to say something this time, because the things Donald Trump says wouldn’t be tolerated in our schools. He bullies people, he name-calls, he makes fun of people because of their race, their ethnicity and the way they look.”
What about students whose parents are Trump supporters? “I say, ‘People might like some of the things that Donald Trump stands for, but there are better ways of saying it,’” Ms. Maher said. “I did say that some people like that he says things for shock value, like the crazy old uncle who just says whatever he wants. But as an educator, I can’t support that. It’s not funny — it’s mean.”
For some children, Trump’s message has filtered down in extremely upsetting, possibly dangerous, ways. Social media has buzzed with parents relaying their children’s fears that they or their friends would be deported, walled in or walled out if Mr. Trump were to become president.
How would you describe to your children about Donald Trump and his poor behavior?
If you were a teacher, would you take the same steps at Maher did and talk against Trump?
Source :
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/11/us/politics/donald-trump-talking-to-your-kids.html?ref=politics
3 comments:
I feel that it is very important that parents discuss many of the comments Donald Trump has made about Muslims, women, Mexicans, and everything in between with their children. As of right now it is looking like Trump could potentially make it to the White House, so this problem won't simply go away, and very well may be around for another 4 years. Therefore, kids need to understand that his extremist and derogatory comments are not alright. As Kathy Maher stated, Trump is a bully, and in having children see him, a very powerful man who may be our next President, behave in such a way is instilling in them that that type of behavior is acceptable. Further it would be sending the message that these are the views that they should hold about these groups of people - again, a very dangerous precedent to set. Even parents who are Trump supporters should make sure to express to their children that Trump's statements are not right. You can agree with his stances on policy, but that shouldn't keep you from recognizing (and addressing) when he does something blatantly wrong and disrespectful. Overall it is deeply troubling that this is a conversation that parents need to have with their children about the possible next leader of America. Kids should be able to look up to and emulate their President, not be warned of their irrational and belligerent behavior.
The fact that the effect of Trump’s profane comments on children is a topic of discussion just goes to show just how unworthy Trump is of the presidency. If I were a teacher to students whose parents supported Trump, I would try to be as inoffensive as possible, but definitely comment about Trump’s behavior. It is the teacher’s responsibility to teach students what is right and wrong despite what they are seeing everyday from the media. I would tell students that people may support what Trump promises to do for America, but that doesn’t mean that they condone his name-calling, bullying, and racist comments. However, it is sad to see that Trump’s words have already penetrated young minds. ABC News veteran reporter Cokie Roberts asked Donald Trump about the language he uses on the campaign trail and its effect on children on Wednesday. “There have been incidents of children, white children, pointing to their darker skinned classmates and saying you'll be deported when Donald Trump is president. There have been incidents of white kids at basketball games holding up signs to teams which have Hispanic kids on them saying we're going to build a wall to keep you out. Are you proud of that?” Though Trump acted as if it was the first time he heard about it and avoided answering the question like he always does, there is no denying that he has a negative effect on today’s youth and is taking his title as a potential president of the United States too lightly.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/03/09/cokie_roberts_vs_donald_trump_on_offensive_language_what_about_the_children.html
I agree with Amanda that because of Trump's wildly ignorant and offensive comments about Muslims, Mexicans, and women, it is necessary for parents to tell their children that Donald Trump is not someone to look up to. While the president is usually a figure that children aspire to be, it's important for parents to teach their children that Donald Trump is not the ideal president. Kids often mimic the actions of those they see and hear; therefore, if they see Trump being widely praised on TV and in the polls, this will send them the message that it's not okay to be saying these kinds of things not only as the potential president but simply as a human being. The horror of the "Trump Effect" in kids has already been seen in Fairfax County, VA. One mother posted on Facebook, "I just got a call from my son's teacher giving me a heads up that two of his classmates decided to point out the 'immigrants' in the class who would be sent 'home' when Trump becomes president. They singled him out and were pointing and laughing at him as one who would have to leave because of the color of his skin. In third grade ... in Fairfax County ... in 2016!" This is proof of how Trump is an influential and persuasive figure which makes him all the more dangerous. Not only does his hateful rhetoric teach ignorance, but it also instills fear in the children of those he is attacking. Another example in Fairfax comes from a Daisy scout. When asked about her future she said, "We'll all be banned." She fears deportation instead of aspiring to be a doctor or teacher all because she is Muslim. The Trump conversation is an important one and must happen in order to continue to progress as a tolerant society, starting with our youth.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-donald-trump-hate-influences-children-20160308-story.html
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