Fostering Civic Engagement and Critical Dialogue During the Election Season

As the United States approaches another critical election, educational institutions play an increasingly important role in guiding students through the complexities of civic engagement. 

In this light, Friends School’s efforts to prepare students for the election go beyond political learning—they aim to cultivate thoughtful, compassionate, and informed citizens who are equipped to contribute to the common good. The school-wide theme Growing Together Through Silence and Dialogue reinforces the importance of approaching political discussions with both introspection and active listening, ensuring that students develop empathy for different identities and viewpoints. These values are critical in today’s polarized political climate, where students must learn to engage civilly with a range of perspectives while upholding their own beliefs. Through intentional programming Friends aims to foster thoughtful, balanced engagement with democratic processes, while encouraging students to develop their own informed perspectives.

The Upper School is creating space for students to navigate this contentious period through lectures, discussions, and activities led by the Center for Peace, Equity, and Justice (CPEJ), the History Department, and various student clubs. These efforts provide students with a deep understanding of the electoral process and offer them opportunities to explore diverse perspectives on key issues affecting the election.

The Center for Peace, Equity, and Justice has developed a series of initiatives designed to foster dialogue and understanding. These include affinity spaces for students to explore their own identities and perspectives, civil discourse lessons, and an upcoming lunch discussion in partnership with the History Department and League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to expanding voting rights. The League of Women Voters will also host a session with Middle School students later this month.

Additionally, the Upper School Political Action Club (PAC) is hosting a voter and pre-voter registration drive on Monday, October 21 for eligible students and community adults. This initiative not only supports the act of voting but also educates students about their rights and responsibilities as future voters.

The History Department has taken a leading role in helping students critically engage with the upcoming election not only during regular classes, but also through optional “teach-ins” offered throughout the fall to all Upper School students during lunch. 

Department Chair Stefan Stawnychy has led several conversations focused on the intersection of history, media, and politics. One key program involved unpacking the first presidential debate, where students had the opportunity to submit questions anonymously or engage in active conversation with their peers. In this session, the discussion examined the candidates’ debate styles and strategies, media coverage, and polling changes, using reputable sources to ground the conversation in fact-based analysis. This opportunity allowed students to explore how political debates are framed, how media representation influences public perception, and how polling data reflects or shifts public opinion.

Beyond debate analysis, Stefan dedicated a teach-in to the mechanics of polling, data collection, and the differences between the popular vote and the electoral college. Drawing comparisons to past elections, such as those involving Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, he provided students with historical context to better understand current trends in voter behavior and candidate strategy.

On October 10, a student-led teach-in, hosted by the Asian Culture Club, Black Culture Club, and Gender and Sexuality Alliance, focused on how different identities are impacted by the upcoming election. This session encouraged students to consider the power of minority groups in elections and examine the disparity between increased voter registration among minority groups and actual voter turnout.

Topics discussed included reproductive rights, healthcare, the economy, and Project 2025, with a specific focus on the intersectionality of race, gender, and socioeconomic status. One of the queries posed during the session asked participants to consider the potential impact of having a woman of color in office—a conversation that pushed students to reflect on how representation can shape policy and voter behavior.

After a group discussion, students broke out into smaller groups for reflection, before reconvening to share their thoughts. These discussions not only encouraged critical thinking but also empowered students to recognize their voices as integral to the democratic process.

In the weeks leading up to and following the election, the History Department will continue to offer programming to support student understanding and engagement. Future sessions will include reproductive rights with Susannah Walker and political hate speech with Peter Kalajian and Sabrina Hernandez. And on November 6, Stefan will lead a post-election debrief to help students process the results and reflect on the implications of the election outcomes.