K–12 Schools in Transition: New Report Highlights Growing Hostility and Decreasing Civility

We find ourselves in a time of political, economic, and social anxiety.

Whether real or perceived, there’s a palpable uneasiness—or downright hostility—in our public rhetoric and political debate.

No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, one thing is clear: The unraveling of our public discourse is blocking our ability to tackle serious problems—from the environment to corruption to racial tensions to poverty, and, perhaps most importantly, to education. Instead of having real, candid, open conversations, political debate is all too often reduced to shaming, intimidation, and even violence.

Given the hostility of public discourse, it should come as no surprise that America’s K–12 students are also facing higher levels of hostility, anxiety, and stress in school.

In May, UCLA’s Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access surveyed teachers and asked them to reflect on changes they witnessed in their school climate during the first four months of the Trump presidency.

In the report released last month, the findings paint a troubling picture of the state of discourse in America’s classrooms.

As schools across the country work to engage students and encourage a civil dialogue in their classrooms, here’s three important takeaways from the UCLA report.

1. Stress in schools that predominantly serve minority students is on the rise

More than half of the surveyed teachers said more students were experiencing “high levels of stress and anxiety” than in previous years. Forty-four percent of participating teachers said stress was impacting students’ focus or causing them to miss class.

Ongoing debates and policy announcements seem to have exacerbated student anxiety, especially among children of immigrants. Fifty-eight percent of teachers reported that the proposed deportation policies for undocumented immigrants were a major concern for students.

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As one Pennsylvania teacher wrote: “Many students were very stressed and worried after the election. They vocalized their worries over family members’ immigration status and healthcare, as well as LGBT rights.”

2. Open incivility and intolerance is on the rise in predominantly white schools

One-fifth of surveyed teachers reported increased incivility in their classrooms and on school campuses. Nearly one-third of participating teachers reported that more students were derogatory about other groups of people during class discussions.

As one Indiana teacher wrote: “Individuals who do harbor perspectives and racism and bigotry now feel empowered to offer their views more naturally in class discussions, which has led to tension, and even conflict, in the classroom.”

This hostility is, in part, fueled by misinformation from unconfirmed sources. More than 40 percent of surveyed teachers said that students were more likely than in previous years to “introduce unsubstantiated claims from unreliable sources.” At least one survey respondent blamed the spread of fake news via social media for the trend.

3. Teachers agree: School leaders need to do more to restore civility

While some participating teachers reported that their school administrators worked to create tolerant and respectful school climates, many others said their school leaders do not do enough.

Less than one-third of participants said their school’s leaders have provided support or guidance to combat hostility in classrooms. And, while 40 percent of surveyed teachers said administrators have made public statements about the importance of civil discourse, most said administrators need to do more.

Seventy-three percent of participants agreed with the following statement: “My school leadership should provide more guidance, support, and professional development opportunities on how to promote civil exchange and greater understanding across lines of difference.”

Have you seen an uptick in hostility or incivility in your classrooms? How are you working to promote civility and open discourse in your school or district? Tell us in the comments.