Writing Chronicles- Week Sixteen

Student politics

Photo Description: This is a photo of the writer and her daughter eating apple cider donuts after the interview, during my bye week.

Week Sixteen

I interviewed my daughter last week. It was the best kind of interview. An interview where both subjects are comfortable, where it feels more like a conversation and you forget that you are recording.

I learned a lot about her perspective on politics, why she is frustrated with others her age who do not understand the impact of politics on their everyday lives, and what role she thinks teachers play in the intersection of politics and education.

Although I won’t be using her responses in the book, her perspectives helped me construct what my chapter on students could look and sound like and the tool to support it.

So many things resonated for me about our talk but what’s stayed on my mind all week is the idea of the “political persona” and how as young people the crafting of the persona starts with the checkboxes that are filled out on our birth certificate, and continues to be crafted by our families, friends, community, religious institutions and particularly school. Super proud mom moment.

My 9-year-old is now jealous so his interview may be next. His response to “What is your definition of politics?” already has me intrigued. Have you all ever asked your kids this question?!?! I would love to know!

Week sixteen complete.