A middle school lesson on presidential candidates sparks controversy

KAPOLEI, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow/Gray News) – The race for the White House is reaching the classroom, and during one lesson, some parents raised eyebrows.

The controversy centers on a two-page document distributed to classes at Kapolei High School in Hawaii.

The task has become worse as US presidential candidates, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump, have taken positions on the issue.

The Hawaii Department of Education confirms that the document was developed by a group of teachers at the school who simplified information contained in a candidate comparison article published in the New York Times.

Materials distributed to students outline their positions on six issues, including crime and immigration.

The two-page document was distributed to Kapolei Middle School classes.

The lesson upset some parents, such as Angel Morales, who felt it was biased against the former president.

“Very nervous,” Morales said. “I believe teachers should do their job as teachers; stick to education, not politics.”

The Hawaii Department of Education said in a statement:

“The Faculty’s intention is to engage students thoughtfully and impartially in civics issues. Recently, the sixth grade class at Kapolei High School used an activity called “It’s a match”, adapted from article in the New York Timesto help students understand the candidates’ positions on key issues.

“Teachers have simplified this information to make it accessible to young students in an effort to remain factual and impartial. The aim was to encourage students to think and discuss for themselves, not to promote any particular view. We recognize that interpreting and simplifying complex issues can sometimes result in perceived imbalances, particularly when presenting diverse political topics to younger audiences, but we remain committed to maintaining a balanced learning environment.”

Reactions from parents at other schools were mixed.

“It doesn’t bother me. I really appreciate this because it’s important to teach students how to make informed decisions when going to the polls,” said Christine Russo, a parent at Ewa Elementary.

“I thought it was a little biased. I don’t think it’s appropriate, especially at this age,” said Natasha Heffernan, another public school parent.

Teachers’ attempts to break down complex issues are defended by the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

In a statement, the association said: “Both HSTA, the Board of Education, and the DOE support student discussion of topics that may generate opposing viewpoints, which is an important part of the learning process. Age-appropriate civics education helps students develop a meaningful awareness of and respect for the U.S. Constitution and individual rights. It promotes students’ recognition of individual freedom and social responsibility to vote. Teachers create lessons to enable students to study, investigate, process and develop their own views about the world and themselves.

The Department of Education did not say whether the teachers involved would face any disciplinary action or whether there would be any changes to the policy, but the agency did convey current policy that states staff are expected to teach “on an objective and fact-based basis.”