March 2025, Part Two

Excerpt from Chapter 6: Navigating Politics as a teacher

The writer with some of her teacher friends.

March 2025, Part Two:

Below is the introduction of Devin, the teacher profiled in Chapter 6: Navigating Politics as a teacher. Devin was born and raised in the UK and is currently teaching in Germany. You learn more about his context earlier in the chapter.…I would love to hear your thoughts or feedback in the comments!

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Devin: Navigating the Political Terrain of Education with Integrity, Nuance, and Purpose

As a teacher, Devin* believes politics permeates every aspect of society and views schools as vital spaces for helping students engage with it critically and constructively. His philosophy merges a sharp understanding of systemic dynamics with a moral commitment to safety, equity, and dialogue, anchoring his teaching in what he calls a "Hippocratic oath" for education.

Defining Politics in Education

Devin defines the political as “the things which influence how people can live their lives.” While in the classroom, he narrows this to formal structures such as laws and policies, but in broader life, he sees politics operating across all spheres-family, social groups, and cultural systems.

Yet, Devin does not automatically subscribe to the idea that “the personal is political.” He clarifies: “I don't view [the personal] as political. That's mine. That's my business.” While acknowledging the external political constructs that affect how identities are perceived, such as race, he distinguishes between how one is labeled and how one intrinsically understands oneself. However, he does recognize that “how you express yourself personally interacts with the political and can influence the political.”​

Empowering Students to Think Critically

For Devin, schools have a responsibility to “empower students to engage intentionally with politics.” He advocates for building students’ capacity to navigate political systems, emphasizing that political education should never be about indoctrination but about intentional and informed engagement. “We should be constantly training the students of how to engage with the political intentionally and effectively,” he says​.