We recently published an article outlining how to talk to students and children about sensitive topics. One of our points was to encourage parents and teachers to remain unbiased when discussing current and sensitive issues. We think that the presence of bias, especially when it comes to current events, is becoming more and more pervasive as polarization divides beliefs. 

In a recent Juice Poll, the vast majority of teachers said they only sometimes covered news stories. They mainly cited fear of appearing biased and getting in trouble with parents and administrators.

While there are non-biased sources to read about current events, it’s also important to not shy away from having conversations about current events with our students and children. However, as respected and authoritative figures in children’s lives, it’s important to keep in mind that our personal beliefs and opinions might easily sway young minds just starting to figure out what they believe about the world. Though difficult to do, when we withhold our own biases in conversation and dialogue, we allow our students and children to think and decide for themselves, developing critical thinking and other 21st Century Skills as a result.

So, as we start and continue these conversations, how can we dive into these important conversations without letting our biases and personal beliefs show?

Understand the Complexity of Bias

Bias is a complicated and layered word that has several different definitions. When we refer to bias as how it affects our conversations around current events, we are often referring to “implicit bias,” which can be defined as “attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.” 

In other words, implicit bias can alter and change how we discuss certain topics based on personal experiences and beliefs, even if we don’t recognize it or do it consciously. 

Implicit biases often develop unintentionally and are hard to detect without doing the work to uncover them. We should keep in mind that everyone has biases– with some more harmful or obvious than others. 

Another relevant and important type of bias is “media bias.” Media bias refers to the political leanings and goals of different news and media sources. Most media sources have a predetermined perspective or stance, which isn’t inherently a bad thing. It’s important to know and recognize the bias of popular media outlets, so you can diversify your news consumption and understand how bias shapes how information is presented to viewers and readers.

Check Your Bias

The first step to eliminating bias from affecting our conversations is to become aware of its presence. As mentioned before, we all have biases– many of them we are not aware of. We need to take the time to examine ourselves and the different ways that bias shapes our current beliefs.

Here’s a few steps to uncovering where you may be biased, based on suggestions from The Inclusion Solution:

1. Self analyze: Do you spend time with people of the same religion, gender or race as you? Do most of your friends look or live similarly?
2. Ask others: Ask someone you trust what their perception of your life and surroundings is. Have they ever noticed behaviors, comments, or jokes that reveal bias?
3. Reflect on your worldview: Is your outlook on life grounded in black or white truths, or do you tend to think more relatively or subjectively? Do you tend to make quick decisions on what you think about a topic or subject? How do you react to people who live or act differently from you?

Not only does becoming aware of biases improve our interactions and conversations with others, but it will also help us recognize how bias often limits how we understand, shape or discuss topics and events. As you become more aware of what your biases are, it will be easier to catch them when discussing important topics, like current events, with students and children. When you are aware of your bias, you are more prepared to filter it out in your conversations.

Focus on Facts and Information Without Adding Your Beliefs

As you become aware of your own implicit bias, you can practice what it looks like to remain neutral and factual when discussing current events. Instead of adding analysis or comments about an event, story, or topic, try to describe it as plainly and fact-based as you can. Put your reporter cap on and speak as objectively as you can. Stick to what you know is factual, don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know” to questions you are unsure of the answer to, and let your student or child consider different factors and details without an adult’s analysis shaping their thoughts.

During discussions, you can also remain neutral by asking open-ended questions that have a goal to understand and deepen the conversation, not attain a certain goal or convince someone to agree with you. Try starting your questions with words like “What,” “Why,” “How,” and “Who.” Look at the difference between these two phrases to see the effect of asking open-ended questions:

A library decided to stop ordering books from a local, small bookstore in town, and instead will now order books from Amazon.

Question 1: Do you think that it was wrong for the library to make that decision?

Question 2: How did this decision affect the bookstore owners, and how does it affect the library?

The first question can only be answered with a “yes” or “no,” and unless prompted, could be the end of the conversation. The second question prompts thoughtful discussion that encourages the listener to look at multiple factors. Aim for questions modeled after Question 2, and see where you students’ or children’s minds go when they are allowed to freely think and share their thoughts.

Use a Variety of Sources to Guide Conversation

If you’re finding it difficult to describe events or topics without bias, lean on varied and non-partisan sources to help lay the foundation for your discussions. 

It’s hard to find news sources that aren’t biased towards leaning one way or another. At the same time, just because a story or source is biased doesn’t mean that it’s dishonest or bad. Students should be exposed to a variety of sources from all perspectives so they can understand how bias affects and shapes the news. 

You can make learning about media bias and current events a fun activity! Try the following steps:

1. Read through The Juice’s daily newsletter, and pick one story to further investigate and discuss.
2. Find an article discussing the topic from one perspective, then find another article describing it from the opposite perspective. Give students a condensed list of media sources from opposite perspectives to help guide research.
3. Compare the articles. Look for differences and similarities in headlines, language, and emphasis throughout the article.
4. Ask your student or child what their thoughts on the topic are after reading it from three different perspectives. Did one article sway them at all? Which one portrayed it fairly? Think of open-ended questions about the topic itself to understand their thought process.

The Juice

Interested in learning how to incorporate more current event topics into your home or classroom? The Juice publishes stories and newsletters every day that are crafted to remain non-partisan and balanced when discussing what’s going on in our world every day. We believe that when we only see the news that supports our beliefs, confirmation bias grows, stunting our ability to connect, remain tolerant, and think critically about all issues. For more information on how to get your students or children signed up to receive our daily stories, check out our launch of The Juice: Home Edition.