Does your learner have thoughts and opinions about things? Would you like your learner to practice sharing ideas with confidence while maintaining a respectful conversation with peers? I have created The Political Salon for learners who like to keep the conversation going outside of my civics classes.

As you know, a salon is a space for intelligent conversation about The Big Issues Of The Day. During the European Age of Enlightenment it was common for educated people to discuss and debate real and pressing issues and now we can do that here, together. As our world gets more complicated and everyone retreats to social media and games, our youth need to practice having real conversations in a (virtual) face-to-face environment.

This class is a space for learners to share ideas, debate solutions and ask questions. This is NOT a lecture class. I start each class with a brief presentation framing the discussion and then we go from there. Each Learner will speak for AT LEAST 4 minutes uninterrupted about the topic of the week.  Learners who do not like to attend classes with their camera open or those who do not like to share opinions are not a good fit. Here, learners can ask questions and talk about views, ideas and solutions to the issues that matter in moderated conversations framed by the Question of the Week or Hot Topics submitted by learners.

The class is organized by broad themes.
Posted questions follow the Theme Calendar below. 
Hot Topics are learner generated and can fall into any of the class themes. 

Week of Sept 5- Politics
Week of Sept 12- Education
Week of Sept 19- Hot Topics
Week of Sept 26- Money
Week of Oct 3- Tech
Week of Oct 10- Hot Topics
Week of Oct 17- Health
Week of Oct 24- The Environment
Week of Oct 31- Hot Topics
Week of Nov 7- Random Interesting Things 
Week of Nov 14- History
Week of Nov 21- No Classes- All Learners will be refunded (no action needed from parents)
Week of Nov 28- Media
Week of Dec 5- Hot Topics
Week of Dec 12- Money

I post the Question of the Week in the Classroom on Sundays. After our discussion I post additional primary and secondary resources for further study and invite additional conversation in the classroom post. 

Here is a list of sample questions:

Politics
Should the U.S. Senate reform the Filibuster, end it or leave it as it is?
Are there enough U.S. Supreme Court Justices? I mean, what is the ideal number anyway?
Daylight’s Saving time- do we need it or should we get rid of it? 

Education
Is the government spending enough money on education?
Are students learning what they need to know in school?
Is college a luxury or a necessity?

Tech
What is the right amount of time to spend on screens? Does that amount change based on what you are doing?
Do we have the right to keep our personal information private?
Does Big Tech need more government regulation?

The Environment 
Does recycling work?
How is the water where you live- can you drink it?
Are you feeling the effects of climate change?

Problems. Solutions. ACTIONS. 
Let’s get it!!