MSU Extension

“Beware of the half-truth. You may have gotten hold of the wrong half.” Author Unknown.

As our political candidates begin jockeying for position in the race for presidency in 2016, and their ideas and statements of “fact” are slung out like switch blades, I believe it is a good time to educate your youth on gaining solid information before making judgments and decisions for themselves. They need to develop critical thinking skills, and this comes in the form of asking the right questions and checking on data and the so called “truths.”

A vital skill teenagers can develop is that of assessing information and making rational judgments based on that information. First, it is beneficial for them to research where that information came from. Science findings, experiments, surveys and claims are often retested or peer-reviewed for verification. However, youth should also question the reviews and supporters of those findings. Who has backed the research and how were the tests conducted? What other research has been done in that area and what were their findings. What were their counter-findings? In essence, ask how the data or information was obtained and who is backing that data.

Winner writes all! It has been said history was written by the winners. History books used in many schools often only scrape the surface of the story. They only give a snapshot of the events and often have a one-sided approach. What really took place when Columbus discovered America? Were there other “foreigners” on the continent before? What is the real story behind Thanksgiving? What was the perception of the war of 1812 for the Native Americans or the French?

There are two sides to every story and some sides are not recorded or often not offered. Have youth research different perspectives before they draw a conclusion or make a decision. Even long held beliefs or assumptions can be proven wrong or if delved in deeper can shed more light on the truth.

Media can push, glamorize or sensationalize a story. They can elevate the seriousness or fear factor to get ratings. The data shows you have a greater chance of getting cancer than being bitten by a shark or mauled by a bear, yet we often see these “out of the ordinary” stories headlined on the news. Would the deadliest animal be an insect? It there a greater chance of you slipping in the shower than being shot by a terrorist? Don’t just gloss over the glam, get to the facts and forget the fear.

This can hold true for the gossip mill too. Too often a story is blown out of proportion or information is passed on erroneously or incomplete. It’s best that youth and adults learn the whole story before passing judgment. Often, the whole story doesn’t come out until the media is long done with that top news story. Plus, media often neglects to report back with follow up reporting, or they may have gotten information wrong or not passed on additional information about the topic.

I would encourage you to teach your child to check the sources of information they find in books, the media and on the internet. This includes presidential candidates and chat rooms. Generally, there are polarized opinions on many subjects and much more to the story that is reported. It’s best if they get both sides or all sides of an issue before making their decision.

Here are some tips. Together, you can research who or what organization is putting out the information. The site may have a financial or political interest in the topic. Many school librarians can help in finding unbiased reliable sites for your student to use for research purposes. Just have them dig a little deeper by checking their resources. It is best they have a three-prong assessment to back their statements and help them make their decision. That is obtaining at least three sites that verify the information or facts represented. I refer to this as truncating your information and facts.

“Remember, there are always two sides to every story. Understanding is a three-edged sword. Your side, their side, and the truth in the middle. Get all the facts before you jump to conclusions.” J. Michael.

That quote is something youth should take to heart and learn to apply. And something we all need to be aware of this political season.

For more information on youth development and life skills, please visit the Michigan State University Extension and 4-H Youth Development websites.