1. Teaching Across the Political Divide: Civic Education in an Era of Intense Polarization
Diana E. Hess
Senior Vice President , Spencer Foundation
Professor, University of WI-Madison

2. Questions What is political polarization?
Why is the US so politically polarized?
What happened in the November election that is important for teachers to understand?
How does political polarization create barriers to high quality civic education?
What might we do differently?

3. What is Political Polarization?
Political polarization refers to moments in time when political discourse and action bifurcates toward ideological extremes, causing a crowding out of voices in the middle, leaving little room for political compromise.

4. The Story of Political Polarization

5. Liberal
Conservative
The story of the parties ideologically homogenizing is just one part of the story. But, let’s stick with the parties for the moment and look at the effect its had on Congress.

6. Movement toward ideological extremes
Conservative
Liberal
Evangelicals move right, social conservatives
Movement toward ideological extremes

7. Income Inequality and Political Polarization
This has happened twice in the last century…

8. Liberal
Conservative

9. Effects of Ideological Sorting
Ideological sorting is happening residentially, and in our social spheres.
When we talk with people who agree with us, our views tend to move toward the extremes.
One result is a more active, but also more hostile, political sphere.

10. The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America Is Tearing Us Apart

11. The Big Sort, 2008
Red = 70% Rep
Blue = 70% Dem

12. The Big Sort, 2008 Correcting for population
Red = 70% Rep
Blue = 70% Dem

13. 2012 Presidential General Election - Colorado

14. Why the Big Sort is good and bad for democracy
People are able to only interact with people and read material that support their views.
= Ideological amplification
= less tolerant public, but more likely to vote/participate

15. Conversation with people who disagree
“Talked about news and current events with people who disagree with you”
Response
Percent
1 – Not at all
31.5 2
17.5 3
12.5 4
11.5 5
8.9 6
6.4 7
3.7
8 – Very Frequently
4.9

16. Distrust

17. • Since 2004, there has been increasing polarization in vote choice among racial groups. Whites across all age groups support Democratic candidates at considerably lower rates than Blacks and Latinos, while support for Democratic candidates has increased among Blacks and Latinos.
For the past 6 consecutive elections, youth have voted Democratic, but there is still significant Republican support.

18. Youth Voters & Turnout Presidential Election
The chart above highlights the difference between turnout and share. The youth share (percentage of voters who are young) has stayed steady since 1996 as more people of every age have voted. Youth turnout, on the other hand, has grown consistently, with half of all year olds voting in the 2008 election. -CIRCLE

19. General Election Youth Turnout in Colorado
50%
52%
40%
Source: CIRCLE,

21. Polarization in Youth Vote by Age and Race
• Young Blacks and Latinos supported President Obama in 2012 at about the same rates they did in 2008, while support for Obama among young whites dropped substantially.
• In 2012 the majority of white youth—51%—voted for Governor Romney. This is a substantial change from 2008 when the majority of white youth—54%—voted for Barack Obama.

22. Young Voters in Colorado (ages 18 to 29)
2008
2004
2000
1996
Young Voters Party Identification
Democratic Party
26%
37%
27%
Republican Party
40%
Independent
30%
29%
28%
Political Ideology of Young Voters
Liberal
13%
36%
Moderate
45%
42%
46%
Conservative
31%
20%
Vote Choice
Democratic Candidate
50%
51%
49%
Republican Candidate
48%
47%
41%
39%
Other Candidate 2%

23. Latino Vote in 2012 Presidential Election
In Colorado, Obama carried the Latino vote by a wide margin—75% to 23%. The president’s performance among Latino voters in Colorado was better than in 2008, when Obama won the Latino vote 61% to 38%. Hispanics made up 14% of Colorado voters this year, up from 13% in 2008.

24. US Support for Social and Fiscal Issues

25. What does this mean for teachers?
Schools are institutions experiencing growing public distrust.
Teachers’ political views under scrutiny.
In many schools, it is much harder to engage students in high quality, non-partisan civic education.
Is it in your school?

26. Open vs. Closed Issues Open Issues: Closed Issues:
No one right answer - would expect disagreement and teachers would aim for multiple and competing views, best care-fair hearing of competing points of view
Open Issues:
Question for which there is a right
answer that teachers want students to build and believe
Closed Issues: 26

27. What Might We Do?
Don’t abandon the project. Schools a good place for non-partisan political education.
Activate the differences you have.
Choose questions and topics carefully (open political and ethical questions).
Play fair. Don’t encourage/model the values of polarization.
Make the case to the public, parents, school board members, and administrators.

28. The Political Classroom

29. What is the Political Classroom?
The political classroom is one that helps students to develop their ability to collectively make decisions about how we ought to live.

30. Democracy is a Verb

31. Presidential Debate Viewing
Students have a viewing session of the first Presidential Debate sponsored by their school.