NHS Students and the Election

Donald J. Trump, who won 312 electoral votes in the recent presidential election, while Kamala Harris won 226, is the clear winner of the 2024 election. Here at Needham High School, from conversations in classrooms and casual chatter in the cafe, students are sharing their thoughts on the presidential candidates and the impact that the election result will have on our generation. Even though most high school students cannot vote yet, that hasn’t stopped them from engaging with the political process. Whether in excitement, concern, or curiosity, discussions sparked by the election are about what kind of nation–and world—we want to build. Let’s take a closer look at what NHS students have to say about the election: 

In response to a survey that I conducted about opinions on the election, all of the results highlighted Trump in a negative light and many disapprovingly reported on the outcome of the election. One student shared, “I hate that the US will have a convicted felon who has raped women” as president. Let’s go through some instances of his charges. 

Donald Trump has been found guilty of many crimes, including the New York hush-money conviction. This revolved around a 130,000 dollar payment made to a porn star, Stormy Daniels. This payment was allegedly intended to prevent Daniels from publicly claiming she had an affair with Trump, which he has denied. In April 2023, Trump was indicted in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Note that he was indicted, not convicted, which are different things. Being indicted means that a person has been formally charged with a crime after a grand jury determines there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial. A conviction means a person has been found guilty of a crime by a judge or jury after a trial or through a guilty plea. For him to be convicted, he would have to have a trial with a jury or judge finding him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but until that happens, he remains presumed innocent under the law. Under New York law, falsifying business records becomes a felony if it’s done to conceal another crime. 

Another historic event that Trump was found guilty in was the January 6th attack on the capital. On January 6th 2021, a heavily armed mob of right-leaning individuals stormed the U.S. Capital at the persuasion of Trump in an effort to prevent the validation of the 2020 presidential election results. The event was caused by growing unrest within the Republican community and slogans that started to circulate within the party. “Stop the Steal” became a popular slogan during the aftermath of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The slogan  was primarily used by the supporters of Trump who claimed (without evidence) that the election was rigged. The slogan was used in protests, rallies, and online campaigns that challenged the legitimacy of the election results. 

On December 19th, 2020, Trump tweeted out encouragement to his supporters, saying it would have been “statistically impossible to have lost the 2020 election. Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, it will be wild!” The mob was able to get through security and create chaos. This riot resulted in many injured individuals, a negative impact on American citizens, and an increasing split between Democrats and Republicans. A bipartisan House Select Committee was formed to investigate the events of January 6th. Its final report, released in December 2022, concluded that Trump was heavily involved in efforts to overturn the election and encouraged the mob. 

Furthermore, Trump has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women over the years. The most widely known accusation was in 2019. Writer E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. In 2023, a civil jury found Trump liable and the jury awarded Carroll five million dollars in damages. This was not a criminal conviction, but instead a civil ruling. A civil ruling is a decision made by a court in a civil case, which involves legal disputes rather than criminal matters, and it does not involve incarceration or criminal penalties. At least 25 other women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Trump. These claims span several decades and include accusations of groping, kissing without consent, and assault. Some allegations resurfaced during the 2016 presidential campaign after the release of the Access Hollywood tape, in which Trump was recorded making comments about grabbing women without their consent.

Another student stated, “Trump's justification and plan for the Department of Education is horrific.” Let’s dig deeper. 

The Department of Education was established by former president Jimmy Carter and provides programs such as funding for K-12 schools who need support and Pell Grants for undergraduate individuals who need financial aid.

Trump’s plan for the U.S. Department of Education in his 2024 campaign involved significant reform, with his most ambitious proposals being the closure of the department itself. He advocates for shifting educational responsibilities from the federal government back to state control. He believes that states should handle education without federal intervention, and his plan includes dismantling the department in D.C., potentially transferring its functions to other areas of government or entirely dissolving them. 

This proposal is not new; other Republican administrations have attempted similar moves. However such a plan would require Congressional approval, and it remains uncertain whether Trump will have the support needed to make it happen. In addition to closing the Department of Education, Trump’s platform also includes withdrawing federal funding from schools that promote certain ideologies, such as critical race theory and gender theory. He also claimed that he will introduce merit-based pay for teachers in order to improve student performance, but there is not enough evidence that shows this method will improve student performance. 

In the U.S. in the last decade, there has been a decline in the ability of students to complete basic math problems and read at their grade level. In 2022, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reported large drops in reading and math scores for younger students, whose education was strongly impacted by COVID-19. Trump has acknowledged this problem with education in America and was focusing on it during the campaign.

On the other hand, Kamala Harris has been very against Trump’s ideas. Harris supports plans that improve access to education for marginalized groups as well as addressing mental health challenges in schools. Efforts have included expanding mental health resources and supporting states in using federal funding  to meet students’ mental health and safety needs. 

Harris has continued to advocate for increased funding for special education. The administration has also prioritized literacy and numeracy programs, alongside initiatives to support teachers and close learning gaps that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Initiatives such as universal free school meals and increased access for marginalized communities aim to support students from low income families. Overall, Harris’s approach continues the Biden administration's broader “Raise the Bar” effort, which prioritizes improvements in literacy and math and school engagement. 

Another student shared, “I feel like social media has really made anxiety skyrocket during the election.” 

Social media has a big presence in the lives of high school students, and even more so during elections. Social media platforms allow candidates to connect directly with the public, making it more impactful than newspapers and television. Candidates can share their views, policies, and campaign updates instantly. These platforms also allow candidates to frame controversies or successes in their terms and give them direct control over public perception. 

One of social media’s most important influences on elections is its ability to give targeted ads and information to specific demographics. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow campaigns to target ads based on user preferences, browsing history, and location. For example, a candidate might tailor an ad about student loan forgiveness to younger votes in urban areas. This practice raises privacy concerns, as detailed user data is used to influence voting behavior. Social media algorithms prioritize content that aligns with users’ interest and beliefs. Users can often be exposed only to perspectives that reinforce their existing views. 

The overload of information that social media has makes it hard to disconnect. The constant exposure to  updates, opinions, and news can overwhelm users, contributing to feelings of stress and helplessness. The rapid spread of false information on social media also contributes to this. False claims, such as voter fraud accusations, spread faster on platforms like X (formally known as Twitter) and Facebook than fact-checking efforts can counter them. This adds to viewer’s confusion and anxiety. 

The election has a significant impact on peoples’ views and lives, as well as the nation’s future. Social media discussions often amplify these fears and cause stress. And while fact-checking information and relying on trusted sources for news can seem obvious, in a stressful situation, people are less likely to think rationally.  

Users may also feel judged for their political beliefs, especially if they differ from friends or family expressed on social media. Living in a primarily blue town in a very blue state, it becomes clear when somebody’s views differ. Many users actively post or share content that relates to their political beliefs during elections or major political events. These posts can create a clear picture of  an individual’s political stance, intentionally or not. For some, these posts can inspire awareness or action, especially if the political views are similar. This kind of performative activism can also create pressure for users to post something, even if they lack strong knowledge or connection to the issue. 

Additionally, while some social media content is lighthearted, many viral posts focus on negative aspects of the election process such as conflicts or scandals, which can fuel collective anxiety. Emotional posts tend to go viral, further stressing users already overwhelmed by the election’s gravity. 

One student commented that they were “definitely disappointed by the outcome [of the election] but glad MA continues to progress.” This seems to reflect many of the opinions of students around Needham High School. Living in a very blue state, it is difficult to picture how Harris could have lost. 

Republican pollster Frank Luntz, he’s not a BBC guy “Kamala Harris lost this election when she pivoted to focus almost exclusively on attacking Donald Trump…Voters already know everything there is about Trump – but they still wanted to know more about Harris’ plans...It was a colossal failure for her campaign to shine the spotlight on Trump more than on Harris’s own ideas.” This is not entirely false. Harris spent much of her time addressing that her policies are separate from Biden’s, but she failed to outline her policies more clearly, often avoiding issues instead of addressing these failures head on.  

The aim of the Harris campaign was to rebuild the audience that secured Biden’s 2020 election win through appealing to the key Democratic groups, such as Black, Latinx, and young voters, while also seeking further support among college-educated voters. However, Harris did not perform as well as she hoped with these groups. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont commented that the loss of working-class voters to the party was predictable. “First it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well,” he said, while criticizing Democratic leadership for maintaining the status quo while voters were demanding change.

The Trump campaign was more successful: he made improvements among his Latinx and African American vote. He also made an improvement with his votes among young adults, from 35% in 2020 to 42% this year. This makes sense as Trump was on podcasts, such as Joe Rogan’s, whose listeners were otherwise difficult to reach. The Trump campaign chose to focus on investing in supporting organizations to create a more personal bond between him and the voting population. 

Adding on to this response, another student stated, “I think that Trump has much looser morals than Harris.” While this is true for some degree, he has strong opinions on a few topics; the most well-known is on reproductive rights. He has made his stance on abortion clear, stating that he wants each state to decide on it for themselves. By doing so, he managed to win 81% of the white evangelical vote. 

Harris’s campaign was already set back by being the vice president of a president whose approval rating decreased and never managed to increase significantly. Biden’s choice to leave the race so late also affected Harris negatively because her time to introduce herself to the voters was shorter, and she was never able to catch up to where Trump was in the campaign. Harris also aimed to get the vote of women by putting reproductive rights at the center of her plan, but this did not happen and did not increase from Biden’s levels in 2020. 

As the 2024 presidential election concludes, it is clear that students are engaged in the political process, sharing a wide range of perspectives, concerns, and opinions. Regardless of their different views, one common thread emerges: students are aware of the significant impact elections have on their futures. It's important to continue these discussions. After all, the choices and opinions we say today will affect the future, and many of those leaders could be sitting in our classrooms right now.