Political news overload drives teachers to eagerly await the start of the school year

Late-night host Stephen Colbert quipped recently that future generations of American students might spend entire semesters studying events from the first half of July 2024.

According to history teachers, Colbert’s statement wasn’t far from reality.

“It feels like a decade packed into a single month,” remarked Betsy Newmark, a high school teacher from Raleigh, North Carolina, with more than twenty years of teaching experience.

Newmark is just one of many educators across the nation eagerly awaiting the opportunity to discuss the whirlwind of noteworthy events with their students as they return to the classroom.

Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. Eight days later, President Joe Biden surprised everyone by withdrawing from seeking a second term, a decision unprecedented for an incumbent president in over fifty years. Biden promptly threw his support behind his vice president, Kamala Harris, who could become the first woman of color to hold the highest office if elected.

While teenagers are drawn in by the memes circulating online, teachers are excitedly preparing their new educational materials. A teacher from Vermont mentioned that her students have been constantly texting her, while another from California reported keeping a notepad by her bedside to jot down late-night inspirations for lesson plans.

“I won’t be discussing coconut trees in depth,” stated Benjamin Schulz, a social studies teacher from Chattanooga, Tennessee, referencing an online viral clip involving the vice president. The teachers are gearing up to engage with their students, with some eager for lively debates and others expecting enhanced interaction through political memes on social media.