Perspective

Dear Educators,

It seems like for the past year or so we have been living through “once-in-a-lifetime” historical events on a day-by-day basis. The past couple of weeks have been no different!

The riot at the Capitol and the second impeachment of President Trump are just the latest in a shocking series of events. 

As educators, we are likely familiar with “growth mindset,” the ability for us to develop our emotional and cognitive skills through work and a series of shifts in perspective. As humans, our personal perception defines our reality. From someone’s own perspective, the things they do make sense to them within that paradigm. This is where empathy becomes a key tool in changing behavior. Even if we vehemently disagree with others, if we can truly put ourselves in their shoes, and understand where they’re coming from, we can get access to the foundation of what is driving their behavior. 

The resources this week aim to provide understanding. A foundation of understanding and empathy could help us shift from violence and unrest, to peace. It can be frustrating to watch this unfold, and we can feel somewhat helpless. If the only action you can take is embodying understanding and modeling it for your students, the ripple effect of us doing this little thing could add up to a big impact.

Be the change.

What happened at the Capitol? Why did the police behave the way they did? Is the social media ban a violation of President Trump’s First Amendment rights? What will happen to the people who stormed the Capitol? Was the election unfair? Can Trump be charged for his role in inciting violence? Answers to these questions and more in this week’s K-12-friendly Geography News Network article.