Our country is less than a month from Election Day. Researchers and educators are already noticing the emotional, social, and physical toll of the contentious election season on both adults and children. In a recent poll, the American Psychiatric Association (2024) identified that 73% of Americans are anxious about the 2024 election. “Young children particularly rely on adults to model for them how to bring order out of chaos, which can be either manageable or overwhelming” (Tran, 2024).
Our Episcopal schools and churches have an extraordinary opportunity to be havens of peace and prayer during this unprecedented time in America’s political history.
In the days leading up to and following the contentious election, our campuses, especially our classrooms, can become heightened emotional spaces where feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, or apprehension from adults may inadvertently affect our students. Emotional contagion plays a significant role in this process, as children often absorb the moods and emotions of the adults around them, even without directly discussing the events. For example, when a teacher feels anxious or unsettled due to the election’s potential outcomes, students may unconsciously pick up on this, leading to increased restlessness, worry, or distraction in the classroom. Children are susceptible to emotional cues and may mirror these feelings, amplifying an already tense atmosphere, even if they do not fully understand the reasons behind the adult’s feelings.
Emotional contagion also potentially happens in the home environment, as children are exposed to their parents’/guardians’ emotions and behaviors. As parents/guardians consume media reports and engage in discussions about the contentious political process, their reactions—whether anxious, frustrated, or hopeful—can deeply affect their children. Children may express strong emotions as they attempt to understand how the election could affect their family or community. These feelings could manifest increased anxiety, confusion, or uncertainty, which children may bring into the classroom. If parents/guardians express strong opinions or show visible signs of distress, children may internalize these emotions without fully understanding the political context, amplifying the emotional atmosphere at school. As a result, the emotional landscape of both home and school may converge, influencing how children process and respond to the charged political climate around them.
Social referencing further compounds this dynamic, as children often look to their parents/guardians, teachers, and other authority figures to guide their emotional responses in ambiguous situations. In the context of a politically charged environment, students may sense the unease of the adults around them and use that as a reference point for how they should feel. If an adult expresses concern or uncertainty, even non-verbally, students might experience similar emotions, feeling confused or unsettled. Unable to process the complex and confused feelings, students might act out or become withdrawn, disrupting the learning environment.
Regardless of one’s political affiliation, Election Day and the days following, as votes are counted, will be stressful for adults and students. We encourage school leaders to engage with teachers and families about strategies for managing stress and anxiety during this time, both at school and at home. Additionally, schools should communicate any plans for election week well in advance, ensuring families know these plans are thoughtful and proactive rather than reactive to potential events throughout the week.
Here are some additional recommendations:
Space for prayer: If your campus has a church, chapel, or quiet sacred space, you may want to make it open to the school community during election week for quiet prayer and reflection.
Clergy, counselors, and health professionals: Individuals in the school entrusted to care for the social-emotional and spiritual health of the community should be freed up as much as possible to be available to students, the professional community, and parents/guardians.
Media consumption: Encourage your professional staff to avoid the temptation of being all-consumed by the news cycle during election week. Common areas on campus (e.g., school library, student gathering centers, faculty workrooms and lounges, and cafeteria) should be safe spaces not inundated by the unfolding events of the election.
Maintain a calm and steady demeanor: Even if you or other adults feel anxious or unsettled, consciously project calm and reassurance to your students. Children are highly perceptive of body language and tone of voice, so staying composed can help reduce emotional contagion.
Provide structured routines: Consistent routines offer children a sense of security, especially in uncertain times. Maintaining predictable schedules in the classroom helps students feel grounded and less affected by external stresses.
Incorporate mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Introduce brief mindfulness activities or relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing or guided imagery, to help students manage any anxiety they may be feeling, whether from emotional contagion or external factors. Mindfulness opportunities could also be offered to the professional community.
Safe dialogue: For school communities with older students, you may consider creating a safe space for open dialogue to allow older students to express their concerns or confusion about current events in a controlled and supportive environment.
Health and safety plans: I recently spoke with trusted local and federal law enforcement contacts. Each has indicated that their agencies are scenario planning for civil unrest and increased public safety threats following Election Day. School leaders should review their health and safety plans to safeguard the community’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
In closing, I want to share some encouraging words from former President Jimmy Carter:
The experience of democracy is like the experience of life itself—always changing, infinite in its variety, sometimes turbulent and all the more valuable for having been tested in adversity.
(Quotations about Democracy, n.d., para. 44)
The Reverend Ryan D. Newman, Ed.D.
Executive Director, Commission on Schools
References:
American Adults Express Increasing Anxiousness in Annual Poll; Stress and Sleep are Key Factors Imp. (2024, May 1). American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org:443/news-room/news-releases/annual-poll-adults-express-increasing-anxiousness
Quotations about Democracy. (n.d.). Civiced.Org. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from https://www.civiced.org/quotations-about-democracy
Tran, Q. (2024, October 18). How parents can avoid passing on election stress to their children. America Magazine. https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2024/10/18/parents-election-stress-249066
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