Is Mr. Sand and Current Issues Feeling the Bern From the Democratic Debate?

by Adriana Rotando (2016)

Mr. John Sand dedicates two classes a day teaching Current Issues to young adults at Wethersfield High School, discussing topics from the Iran Deal to the upcoming Presidential candidates. To no one's surprise, the first democratic debate in Nevada on Tuesday night made its way into the classroom discussion Wednesday afternoon, October 14th, 2015.

The class discussed how they felt the debate went and whom they felt the democratic champ was. This discussion included talk of the issues that were brought up during the debate such as climate change, foreign policy, black lives matter and even the Hillary Clinton email scandal.

Student and social justice activist, Katherine Rielly had her own views on the debate, “I think Bernie Sanders really brings the most diversity in the group compared to the other candidates. Being a socialist is definitely a game change.”

Most of the young people in the Current Issue class were “Feeling the Bern,” after the debate but, History and Current Issue teacher, Mr. Sand had a different feeling after watching.

“I thought the debate was luke­warm... There was little difference on the issues.” Mr. Sand said when asked what he thought of the debate. “I thought Clinton handled the toughest questions very well.”
Even though Sand felt Clinton was successful in the debate, he did share his feeling of Bernie as well saying, “Bernie took the opportunity to express himself to such a large audience for the first time and I think he did well. He came across as honest, straightforward and unwilling to hit below the belt.”

​When the class touched base on the other candidates besides Sanders and Clinton, there was little to be said other than the groups feel of their unimportance. “The other three candidates will have little to no impact on the race and there is very little they can do about it.” 

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