In the rapidly changing world where views are often polarized around local, national and global issues, teens often seem to lack a clear understanding of what’s happening around them. Schools need to take action and help students stay informed by creating a Current Events class.
According to a 2024 survey by the National School Public Relations Association 96 percent of respondents said the spread of false information in the news is an issue for school districts today. This highlights how quickly fake news can spread and how significantly it impacts schools environments and students.
This Current Events class will help students have the opportunity to grapple with important issues informed by multiple sources. Without this, students risk being excluded from important conversations on topics that impact their future, due to their lack of accurate information. Despite living in an era of advanced technology and communication, teens are increasingly misinformed about current events.
The White House recently announced that it will take control of the press pool, determining which reporters can cover President Donald Trump. They are the first administration in decades that insists on choosing which news organizations can cover the president in the Oval Office. This shift in press coverage could have serious consequences for the future, as it may easily shape biased narratives.
It is important to have unbiased sources and reports on important events that the public needs to be informed of. A current events class could expand students’ knowledge and strengthen their critical thinking skills.
A big issue today is being able to find trustworthy sources from which students can get information about news events. This course would teach them how to find good sources and build a skill set to help to create
a smarter, more aware generation that’s prepared to navigate an increasingly complicated world.
The constant flow of information from social media platforms and 24 hour news cycles prioritize grabbing readers attention over delivering the full story. It’s crucial for people to be informed and taught how to critically handle this steady stream of information for their later careers and lives.
The students could analyze data from multiple sources, identifying differences and assessing each one’s credibility. They would have the ability to think critically, identify biases and distinguish false information from the truth. This will lead to a healthier understanding of topics, resulting in a better-educated group of students.
They would look at important subject matters like immigration, abortion, DEI and global conflicts to build a better understanding of historical context and current status.
One potential concern with creating a class like this is the possibility of a teacher introducing their personal bias into the discussion of topics, especially politics. A solution is for the class to approach events from multiple news sources with varying viewpoints, allowing students to compare sources and determine what is accurate.
This class will let students have the opportunity to form their own conclusions about politics and the world after being unbiasedly informed about the current events.
