Many teachers saw the attack on the U.S. Capitol as an important moment to discuss history, media literacy and the Constitution with their students. But some were also wary, fearful of angering parents and of running afoul of school district guidance to avoid sharing their political views with students.
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Many teachers felt it was important to discuss the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol with their students. But some were also wary. Credit: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
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Samantha Palu, a high school government teacher in South Dakota, came to school on Jan. 7, 2021, armed with a plan to talk to all of her classes about the attack on the U.S. Capitol the previous day. When she started at the school in August, she was told not to say anything “political” in class a difficult mandate for an educator whose job it is to teach about politics.