The 2016 US presidential election was one of the closest and most divisive campaigns in history. Once again, the political world was turned on its head by a “shock” result - making it another challenging period for modern studies teachers, not to mention an uncertain time in politics on both sides of the Atlantic.
Scottish pupils were incredibly engaged with the US election during the campaign. They wanted to discuss what each candidate said and were eager to share their thoughts on how Americans should vote. One view was: “I don’t want Donald Trump to win - I mean, it would be funny, but no, I really don’t want him to win.”
Pupils know that what he does will affect them, albeit not as immediately as Brexit. They are concerned about who and what Trump is: that unknown quantity. Many say they are shocked that America has elected someone who has openly insulted minorities, women and races other than whites.
It’s hard to stay neutral
For most of the campaign, pupils were remarking, “Surely Trump is a racist for the things he keeps saying? Surely Americans won’t vote for him?” They were also worried that Trump would use nuclear weapons.
They are concerned that the tactics we witnessed on the campaign trail will continue into the Oval Office, with Trump insulting other world leaders - and that, in pupils’ words, “his actions may lead to a war”.
Many do not understand why Americans have chosen him as their next president. They are struggling to see the positives that would lead someone to vote for him. They are very concerned about Hispanics, Mexicans and immigrants, which shows me they have not only been following the campaign but also have an awareness of world events and a great empathy for people near and far.
A number thought that Hillary Clinton would be a good president for her attitudes on LGBT rights, and are now very worried about where this will be taken under president Trump. How do I explain that someone with no political experience is going to be running the most powerful country in the world? They really want to know why, and what happens now. As with Brexit, I have no immediate answers and it is difficult to stay neutral.
So I end up saying that we need to be open to democracy. Yes, Clinton won the popular vote, but Trump won the White House. We need to respect democratic systems and, even more importantly, keep an open mind about where America will go and how this will affect the relationship between Scotland, the UK and the US.
We have to hope it will all work out OK. To quote one pupil, “I wish luck to America.”
Sarah Tennant is a modern studies teacher
