I teach high school art twice a week and was surprised to hear the kids talking all about Ukraine and Russia. They were repeating what the news and their teachers were saying (which were one in the same) and my hackles went up. This morning the principal prayed Putin would have a change of heart and withdraw. It’s a conservative school, but the majority of parents, students, and staff don’t have a clue. I have them again on Tuesday, and I want to be prepared. I’m going to do a lesson on propaganda in art, using what’s going on now to show them how what we’re told and even what we’re shown isn’t always the reality. Here’s where I need help. When things like this come up where there’s so much information and a limited amount of time and some know-it-all teenagers, I get tongue-tied and I can’t get the information in my brain to come out in a calm, sensical manner. Any suggestions are welcome! I’m planning on showing the map of the US bio labs and where Russia bombed those areas, the picture from last week, I think, of the kindergarten or daycare that was bombed yet the toys were still neatly put away and the video of the people running in front of the ancient tank on the green grass in winter and the dummy flying through the air. Sorry for the long post, but I want to do the best job I can to get through to these kids who will hopefully get through to their parents and other teachers.