Nov. 9, 2016 was a day that will define this school year.
Millions of Americans woke up to the news that Donald Trump was their president-elect, even after pundits spent the final weeks of the campaign sure of a Trump loss. That left educators with a huge challenge: help students understand the results as they were working to understand it themselves.
Chalkbeat reporters spent the following days in classrooms across the country. They captured student protests, heartfelt writing assignments, and contentious discussions. Here are some of those key moments.
- The day after: Hard questions as education reform wakes up to Trump’s America
“Trump’s victory not only unsettles the future role of the federal government in American schools (he has said he wants to eliminate or severely cut the U.S. Department of Education). It is also raising wrenching questions for leaders who have devoted their working lives to improving schools in poor communities.” - ‘Will I be deported?’ Inside America’s classrooms in the wake of Trump’s win
“And in the wake of a campaign in which Trump talked about ramping up deportations, building walls, and banning Muslims from entering the country, teachers at schools that serve immigrants and their families faced intensely personal questions. Will I be forced to leave? Will my parents?” - What Trump’s election means for undocumented educators
“We spoke with all three educators, who are in their early- to mid-twenties, about their lives and careers — and how a presidential election in which they weren’t allowed to vote could profoundly alter them.”
- Sign of the times: Teacher whose classroom-door sign went viral explains his message
“‘I love my Muslim students. I love my black students. I love my Hispanic students. I love my gay students. I love my disabled students. I love my poor students. I love all of my students and I will fight for you, not matter what'” - ‘You’ve got to be able to talk about it.’ Getting beyond taunts and walkouts after Trump’s victory
“As for the boy who wore the ‘I’m a deplorable’ T-shirt — a self-described libertarian who wasn’t a strong Trump supporter in the first place — students in his Advanced Placement government class respect diverse views and were unbothered by his outfit, she said.”
Check out all of our 2016 Year In Review coverage here. Like what you see? Make a tax-deductible donation to Chalkbeat today to help support our work in 2017 and beyond.