Teaching history as it happens

The past months would be challenging for any current events and government studies instructor to teach as the United States has veered into unprecedented times. Then on January 6, the country and world witnessed protesters take over the Capitol building for several hours.

The last time this building had been breached was in 1814 by the British.

Americans are seemingly torn between those feeling like the hundreds that entered the Capitol were rightfully demonstrating against an election that was stolen from the current president and other citizens believing the people were trespassers who were seditious in their intentions.

The vandalization of the Capitol's offices and hallways has been condemned by most Americans, but there is still division about who was responsible for it actually happening.

At Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School, current events teacher Cliff Jones and government studies teacher Russ Wiggam find themselves having to navigate discussions between their students who have opposing viewpoints with total impartiality. 

"I encourage my students in the beginning of my classes to talk about what is going on and stay middle of the road," Wiggam said. "I try not to say one way or the other, besides "what do you think.'"

Wiggam said he has two government studies classes and one is more vocal.

"Both of these classes are seniors," Wiggam said. 

The recent impeachment of President Donald Trump has not been a strong topic of discussion in Wiggam's classroom, but Jones said in his current events class, it has been talked about.

"I had them write a paper on this subject and had them do research to back up their opinions and all but two of the students felt President Trump was at least partially responsible," Jones said. "Two felt he was not."

Jones said students having factual information was the largest handicap in teaching the class.

"The biggest thing that I have found in current events is that there is so much disinformation out there that is reported as fact," Jones said. "If it is on a news channel it is accurate in many student's minds. So, depending on the news channel you are watching, that is the gospel."

Jones has students write a weekly paper on current events and has addressed the situation.

"I tell them if they are getting their information from a conservative site, then they need to go to a liberal site, and vice versa, so they look at both sides," Jones said. "For the most part, concerning the impeachment, students wonder what good is it going to do?"

To reinforce Jones' awareness of disinformation; Americans who want impeachment, even if President Trump leaves office, believe he will lose benefits such as his $200,000 pension for the rest of his life; his $1,000,0000 year travel allowance; his lifetime full secret service detail and his ability to run in 2024. 

According to Factcheck.org, a non-partisan and non-profit organization, unless he is impeached by the Senate before his term of office is over on January 20, the loss of these benefits will not happen. The current president will be known as 'former" President Trump.

Factcheck.org states the prospect of President Trump losing the ability to run in 2024 is not an automatic result of an impeachment, or even a conviction by the Senate. If the Senate did convict a president, a separate vote would be required to also disqualify him from holding future office.

The Former Presidents Act, first passed in 1958, details the benefits due to any former president following their time in office.

The act defines a former president as "a person who shall have held the office of President of the United States of America; whose service in such office shall have terminated other than by removal pursuant to Section 4, Article II of the Constitution of the United States of America; and who does not currently hold such office.

Section 4, Article II of the Constitution reads that the President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States shall be removed from office for impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Office staff employed by a former President of the United States are, by this act, paid up to $96,000 a year. In the first 30 month period after their time in office, however, staff for a former president can be paid up to $150,000 a year.

The widow of each former President of the United States is also entitled to receive benefits including $20,000 per year. Those benefits begin the day after the former president dies and are terminated if the widow dies or remarries before the age of 60.

Because, after noon on January 20, President Trump will be former president Trump, all the benefits listed are due to him.

Jones mentioned there has been some reaction about Congresswoman Liz Cheney not following the will of her constituents in Wyoming by agreeing to impeach President Trump.

"She is following the constitution," Jones said. "If Trump is found guilty of inciting a riot that had the Capitol taken over during the electoral college count, whether you agree with his reasons, it is illegal. You can't do felonies just because you are President of the United States. Just because the majority of people in Wyoming feel he shouldn't be impeached, she can't vote against the constitution."

Jones said again it is disinformation from many media sources, liberal and conservative, that seem to cause division.

"I had a couple students really upset that Vice-President (Mike)Pence didn't stop the count for the electoral college," Jones said. "Pence didn't have a legal right to stop it, but because of disinformation being put forth about what Pence could do and couldn't, I had to explain how it actually works."

Jones said it is essential for him to show no favoritism to either side. 

"The hard part is I can't come across as in favor on one side or the other. I basically present both sides as best as I can and allow the students to make up their own minds," Jones said. "In the process, if they are saying something that is not true because they have heard it on social media or a liberal site or conservative site that didn't go through fact checking, I have to be careful as I explain, that I don't come across that I am attacking their opinions or ideals."

Wiggam agrees.

"My personal feelings have to be put aside," Wiggam said. "I tell them,' I want you to come up with your own way of thinking,'" Wiggam said. "I just had them do a paper on 'how do you feel about the death penalty'. I tell them, 'you cannot answer this wrong'. This is their opinion. That is the way I try and teach the class."

Jones agrees students should strive to get their own convictions.

"They should have their own opinion, not have someone give them an opinion," Jones said. "But to get that opinion they need to do research, not because they read this from their best friend or whoever."

Wiggam said it is also difficult that, although facts are put forth, some politicians and media continue to put forth untruths continuously. 

"It is a matter of explaining that some people are going to continue to pound something non-factual into the ground in the hope that eventually, people will be worn down and just give up," Wiggam said. "But when it is in writing, the way to change it is a constitutional amendment, not by repeating non-factual information over and over."

Jones said constant fact checking is what he is trying to instill in his students as they take in information.

"Every student just a got a Chromebook, so if they have a question, I tell them to look it up and take in both sides," Jones said. "Yellow journalism has been around for a long time, where the most fantastic stories, true or not, sell. That is why I make it the student's responsibility to find out the truth."

Jones said students have questioned what protests are correct.

"I tell them, in this country, everyone has the right to protest, if you fill out the correct forms and follow the guidelines, you are allowed to protest," Jones said. "But if you break the terms of your agreement to protest, then there is a problem, especially if it turns violent. Once your protest turns violent, it is no longer a protest. I don't care the cause or where you are at, violence can't be condoned."

Both teachers acknowledge the strong divide that has happened in the country could be traced to when the internet became a way of conducting life.

"There was a time not so long ago, that news came from NBC, ABC and CBS along with newspapers," Jones said. "Then CNN came along with 24 (hour) news. That meant stories had to be found. Then came the internet with social media that is filled 24/7 with stories, verified or not. The internet has given politicians a great opportunity to say whatever they want with pretty much impunity. Again, that is why I tell students to fact check from all sources because you won't hear the whole truth from just one side. It is the nature of politics."

Jones and Wiggam agree the current political enviorment is not easy to teach, but it is important for students to stay focused on what is the truth. 

"We may not know what the future is going to bring in the coming days, weeks or year to come, but armed with the truth and facts, the students can form their own beliefs and opinions," Jones said. "As teachers, we can't ask any more."