Binghamton University hosts panel to discuss classroom controversies

VESTAL (WBNG) -- As the school year approaches for high school students across the state, Binghamton University held a panel Tuesday morning to talk about the issues facing classrooms across the nation.

Assistant professors at the university touched on the issues of cell phone usage and political discourse within schools.

Regarding ever-heating political climate as the 2024 General Election draws closer, tensions have continued to rise between Republicans and Democrats.

Now, students have become reluctant to talk about political matters in class due to the fear of being called out online for their views.

Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, Suzanne McLeod, PhD said that this pressure has led to students not speaking in class.

“They’re not speaking up in class because they’re afraid that if they say anything it’s going to make its way onto social media and they will then be harassed or even worse canceled,” said McLeod.

Although social media has put peer pressure on students making them scared to talk about the issues facing the nation, Assistant Professor at Binghamton University, Lightning Jay, PhD stressed that students need to participate in political discourse to learn the skills before entering the world.

“It’s a space where students can learn to disagree. It takes a certain kind of work from teachers,” said Jay. “Work that we need to train them in, work that we need to as community members demand that our teachers actually engage in.”

Members of today’s panel also stressed the need for students to be removed from their phones in class. They argued that even if the phone is not in use but near a student that their attention span and test scores decrease.