A Plea for Deliberation in the Classroom. A Response to "Fostering Open-Minded Political Engagement through Online Interscholastic Discussions

This response to “Fostering Open-Minded Political Engagement through Online Interscholastic Discussions” reviews the strengths of the study, highlights the limitations, and discusses the importance of continuing and scaling fostering open-minded political engagement in schools, particularly in middle and high schools. Polarization, both affective and political, is one of the most pressing issues of contemporary civic life, and this study takes this issue head-on and enables students to be thoughtful in their exchanges with diverse others. The authors leverage deliberative democracy theory and educational frameworks to explore how boundary-crossing discussions can enhance students' political open-mindedness and engagement. While the paper contributes valuable insights into the pedagogical possibilities of cross-school discussions, this response offers a critical assessment for further iterations of this study.