High School Civics Course Sparks Controversy Over Public Political Affiliation Display
A high school civics and government course in Madison, Wisconsin, sparked controversy after students were asked to publicly display their political affiliations. The assignment, part of the semester-long curriculum, required students to identify as Republican, Democrat, or Independent by writing their names on colored squares. The assignment, known as the 'politico spectrum display', involved students listing three political issues they wanted to resolve and explaining their reasons. Students were then to post their political affiliation on a bulletin board. While some students participated, others expressed discomfort with the public nature of the assignment. One student declined to participate due to fears of harassment from classmates. The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District confirmed the assignment's inclusion in the course curriculum. However, following student concerns, the district acknowledged that the public display made some students uncomfortable and removed the politico spectrum display from the hallway. The district is now investigating reports of student-to-student harassment related to this activity. The district's investigation into reported harassment is ongoing. Meanwhile, students who initially participated in the activity have been allowed to opt out, and the public display of political affiliations has been removed. The incident has raised questions about the balance between teaching civics and protecting students' comfort and safety in expressing their political views during history lessons.
