FFWN: Breaking News

4/21/26

The Effects Of Politics In Public Education

By: Rilynn Reigles, Managing Editor

From the history of the tinker tests to the everyday effects, take a deep dive into how political views are affecting the education system as a whole.

With so many different people, cultures, and perspectives, personal opinions and beliefs are always affecting the public education system. There are constantly questions being thrown out there when it comes to political views being shared in schools. Along with this, there are so many different beliefs and demands that are affecting the school system. 

When sharing political views in schools, there are so many different things that need to be considered. Whether it’s fact or opinion, teachers, administrators, staff, and even students need to be cautious when speaking about not only what’s going on in our country, but also even just things going on around schools. The EducationWeek site explains that there are so many different versions of politics, and so many different ways to express. Though in school these views are often being conveyed as one side or the other, Republican or Democrat. Regarding this, EducationWeek says that, “We absolutely need the substance of politics in secondary - level classrooms, without the partisanship and crass insults that saturate our media.” (partisanship: the strong, often blind, loyalty to a particular political party, faction, or cause, usually accompanied by bias against opposing groups.) Students need to be informed about what is going on in our country and in school, or a history class can be one of the best places to learn, but at the same time, it can be hard to find a balance between teaching and opinionating. 

One of the most important parts of the education system is the school boards, along with the decisions that are made through all of these boards for the schools and school districts. Oftentimes, the school boards do lean toward certain political parties, which can lead to so many different decisions being made based on personal opinion. The University of Boulder, Colorado, has written an article about how school boards are being affected by politics. They mentioned that during the pandemic that COVID-19 caused, there were many differing opinions and outlooks on how this was affecting the education system. They say, “with the opening and closing of schools. That choice affected every part of a community's life, so families certainly got more invested in that.” While the communities got more involved in the decisions being made, it led to many different beliefs being formed, which caused school boards to become more political,  but also the communities to get more involved and influence the decisions made through the Board of Education. 

There are many limitations and rules when it comes to political views being shared in schools. A teacher sharing political views with colleagues is not necessarily considered a bad thing, and actually, it can often build relationships and let people know where their colleagues and employees stand. This does not mean that teachers are permitted to share or influence political views with their students. Instead, teachers can practice their beliefs on their own time, whether this is during their breaks or before and after school. These policies come from understanding that each student’s family is different and each home is teaching its children different beliefs and views. 

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Not only do teachers have limitations, but so do students. Throughout history, there have been many occasions where students wanted to share their personal ideas and beliefs. One of these cases is the shaping of the Tinker Tests.  

In 1965, a small group of kids attending school in Des Moines, Iowa, wanted to silently protest the Vietnam War and to show their grievances to all those who were lost during this time. To do this, they planned to wear black armbands on their sleeves. When the principal of the school found out, he tried to prohibit the kids from wearing these armbands with the argument that it would cause a disruption to the learning environment. Because of this belief, kids got threatened with being kicked off sports teams, and some even got suspended from school. Throughout this, the school board was trying to ban the armbands, and because of this decision, the community of Des Moines grew angry, explaining that this ruling took away the First Amendment rights (the right of free speech, religion, and the right of the press) from students. The parents of some of the students decided to sue the school board, which was seen by the U.S Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ended up siding 7-2 in favor of the students.   

This led to the ‘Tinker Tests’ being established. The Free Speech Center explains that the Tinker tests were needed to “determine when public school officials may discipline students for their expression.” Through the protected First Amendment, students are allowed to show their support and beliefs as long as they are not disrupting the learning environment. Though if the students’ actions cause an upheaval, then the school, or school boards, are allowed to take action and provide the correct amount of consequences to the student or group of students causing the disruption. 

This act is still in order today. Students all over the country are allowed to have beliefs and be protected under the first amendment rights. Though this does not mean students can be disrespectful or discriminatory. Instead, they must practice their beliefs in a way that is not troublesome. Because of this, the Tinker Test not only protects student rights, but it also protects teachers’ beliefs and the classroom. 

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Personal values and opinions are affecting people all over the country, including Fruita and Fruita Middle School. FMS has many different policies following the amount of sharing that can come into the classrooms here at FMS. 

Mrs. Romero, the counselor for students with the last names A-L, has given insight into how sharing personal beliefs can affect the learning environment. She says, “When done respectfully, it can help others see another side of something they may not have considered before.” Through conversations, the staff of FMS is able to grow boundaries and opinions of one another. Mrs. Romero also gives explanations for how much is okay to share with students. She says, “When it comes to adults sharing [political views] with students, there is a fine line.” Mrs. Romero explains that each family is different, and respecting the choices of the guardians in the home is very important. School staff should not be influencing the beliefs set in the students’ homes before they even come to school. 

Each person has a different view of the public education system, and each has their own beliefs on how different political activity is affecting the system. Mrs. Burke, one of the eighth-grade science teachers, says “ [politics] shape decisions related to curriculum development, instructional materials, and school funding.” She explains that teachers must work with and around all of the guidelines and policies that are put in place. Along with this, Mrs. Burke also discussed that it is important for students to know what is going on in their world. Regarding this, she says, “As a science teacher, I recognize the importance of presenting current, evidence-based information and widely accepted scientific theories, regardless of personal beliefs.” Because of this, students are informed and not influenced. Meaning students can take the things that teachers give them, make their own decisions, and build their own ideas based on this information. 

Not only are the teachers of FMS affected by personal beliefs and policies, but so are the students. Addi Church, a seventh-grade student at FMS, has noticed how different mindsets are affecting the day-to-day. She says, "politics are affecting how the classrooms are run and [how the] curriculum is built.” Due to all of the different policies and rules that the school board builds, the curriculum is based on these guidelines. Trying to find a perfect balance for the things being taught that does not cross the boundaries set by the school boards and the guardians at home. Addi also explains that when thinking about personal beliefs, whether it is religious or political, it will affect “How each student reacts to the information.” Each person has been taught different things. Each child has been raised with different people. Each family has their own standards. Because of these differences in beliefs all over schools, each student should be expected to react differently to something that could be considered controversial. 

Fruita Middle School is full of different people with different beliefs, and because of this, the continuing need to change, grow, and complete policies for how much is shared is very important. Understanding all of the different parts of the education system as a whole is important to be able to understand how personal beliefs are affecting all of the different parts and pieces of schools, school boards, and communities, like Fruita, as a whole. 

Sources: 

• Education Week

• University of Boulder, Colorado: https://www.colorado.edu/today/2024/08/13/are-school-boards-becoming-politicized-expert-weighs

4/22/26

How AI is Changing Education

By: Rilynn Reigles

From constantly changing beliefs, to a changing country, to changing software - The education system is continuously growing to fit the needs of everyday differing technology and beliefs. 

There are so many things changing the public education system in the United States. From AI coming into classrooms, to personal beliefs and politics affecting teaching styles and community around the nation, the upcoming years will change so much involving the education system. 

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With so many different people, cultures, and perspectives, personal opinions and beliefs are always affecting the public education system. There are constantly questions being thrown out there when it comes to political views being shared in schools. Along with this, there are so many different beliefs and demands that are affecting the school system. 

When sharing political views in schools, there are so many different things that need to be considered. Whether it’s fact or opinion, teachers, administrators, staff, and even students 

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AI is becoming more and more a part of society every day, especially in schools. Many students are using AI as something to use cheat codes, write their essays for them, and make AI do all the thinking. This does not mean that AI is always a bad thing. There are pros and cons to everything, including artificial intelligence. 

Having AI in classrooms doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing; it can create a community full of educated students and strong individuals, as long as it is used correctly. The Simmons School of Education and Human Development explains that “[AI is] transforming the educational process into a more personalized, efficient, and effective journey for learners of all kinds.” When thinking about using AI in classrooms, we must also think about the fact that, if shown how to use it the right way, students can connect with their learning on a more personal level than simply just using AI as a cheat tool.

 The effects of AI in classrooms are often, right now, negative. One of the negative impacts of allowing the use of AI in schools is that it limits the relationships that are built while in the classroom. The University of Illinois explains that “Relying more and more on AI may reduce the teacher-to-student interactions.” When students use AI, they feel less inclined to ask for help and instead find the answers through an AI chat box or an unreliable source on the internet. Along with this, AI in the classroom can also lead to student misconduct and plagiarism if the students do not feel comfortable asking for help from their teachers. The University of Illinois discusses this topic by saying, “If AI is used to complete assignments or exams or write papers, it is unfair to the students who don’t cheat.” By pointing this out, UIUC has helped many people realize that not only is AI affecting the students who are cheating, but also the students who are not. Having to put more guidelines and rules for those who use AI efficiently and for its purpose, to help us, not think for us. Because of the mistrust that students create by using AI to cheat, it then becomes ineffective for those who use it as a tool. 

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While trying to find a balance of being useful and being dishonest, Fruita Middle School has blocked most AI sites and tools. Though this does mean that it is not still being used in the classroom. Many teachers are using certain AI chatbots to help students review, edit, and discover more about what they are learning. Many questions come with this, though, one of them being, should we continue using AI to help students, but also teachers, in the classroom?

 Mrs. Burke, an 8th-grade science teacher, was asked about what she thought of using AI in her class. “It can provide valuable feedback on clarity, professionalism, grammar, and spelling, as well as offer suggestions they may not have considered,” says Mrs. Burke. She explains that Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool, from checking small mistakes to helping students learn. Though Mrs. Burke did not let the fact that students are using AI to cheat and be dishonest. She says, “Many students currently use AI primarily to obtain answers.” Because of this, students are using AI to think for them, not to help them. Adding to this, Mrs. Burke does not necessarily believe that AI is a bad thing; instead, she says, “I believe it is more beneficial as a tool to enhance and improve their own work and thinking.”

AI is affecting more than just the main core classes at FMS; it’s affecting the elective classes, too. Mr. Hirsch, the Futures teacher here at FMS, has provided a lot of insight on how AI is affecting the day-to-day in his classroom. When asked about how AI will continue to affect FMS, he says, “Students [are] less likely to do their own work.” He explains that through AI, students are able to click a few buttons to write their papers or do their homework. Because of this, Mr. Hirsch also says that he doesn’t want “AI to do critical thinking.” A constant pattern throughout having AI in schools is the risk of students using it to their own advantage, helping them cheat and be dishonest in their education. But this isn’t the only constant thought running through teachers’ heads. Mr. Hirsch believes that a lot of good can come from AI, saying that it is "Beneficial for organization and ideas.” Knowing this, we are able to realize that students can gain information and helpful tools through AI if they are taught to use it correctly. 

Not only is Artificial  Intelligence affecting students’ learning, but also their mental health. Mrs. Romero, a counselor for the students with last names A-L, was interviewed to discuss the effects that AI has on mental health at FMS. She says, “The effects of AI use in the classroom, whether good or bad, depend on how it's used.” Regarding this, Mrs. Romero explains that AI, if used responsibly, can build confidence in student academics. Along with this, Mrs. Romero, when asked about where AI will take education throughout the years, says, “The Board of Education and Leadership with the District will keep an eye on things and put specific guidelines in place to ensure it is used correctly.” When using AI in classrooms, there will be many people keeping an eye out on how it is being used and if it is being used correctly. 

Throughout the changes of Artificial Intelligence all throughout the world, Fruita Middle School will continue to search for the perfect balance between AI use and critical thinking.

Sources: 

University of Illinois: https://education.illinois.edu/about/news-events/news/article/2024/10/24/ai-in-schools--pros-and-cons

Simmons School of Education and Human Development: https://learningsciences.smu.edu/blog/artificial-intelligence-in-education