C.O. teachers discuss N. Korea with students
What are Central Oregon students learning about the tensions in the Korean peninsula? One AP (advanced placement) government teacher at Mountain View High School said Friday he gives the facts to the kids, and lets them form their own opinions.
Mike Huff’s class kicks off with current events. Lately, North Korea has been on the agenda.
“It freaks me out, that it’s possible that a war could happen,” said senior Emily Lawrence. “But there is also other possibilities that could happen, too.”
Sisters Emily and Amanda Lawrence have seen the news and heard the talk about why there’s tension.
“We’ve definitely learned about the history, and what’s happening and all the current events,” said Amanda. “And we’ve watched the propaganda videos.”
After watching some of the videos, the kids talked about what action they would take if they were in charge.
“How would you deal with this situation, and what steps would you take?” Huff said he asks them. “And it really gets the kids thinking about that there are some real-world implications, and how would it affect them.”
Huff says the students’ ideas ranged from bombing North Korea immediately, to talking it out with them. And the kids can go back and forth and get some long discussions going.
“So I’ll present the information, I’ll let them battle it out, and I’ll play devil’s advocate or present the other viewpoint,” Huff said. “But I’ll never give them my opinion, because I think it’s important they form their own opinion.”
The students said one of the hardest parts to grasp is how North Koreans see them.
“They see us as like a big villain, that we’re like a big monster and we’re going to come and get them,” said Emily. “I don’t know why they’re so scared.”
As unsettling as some of the images are in the video released by the North Korean government, the sisters said they want to try and understand it.
“Since we’re older, we kind of get a better idea of what’s going on in the world,” said Amanda. “So it’s definitely nerve-wracking, but it’s good to learn.”
