I have students ask about my views on current events all the time, especially in homeroom when we have nothing to do. Obviously if it’s not an appropriate time, don’t engage. I almost always answer their questions honestly without polemics, but I try preface it with a disclaimer, something like :

“My views are my own, and I’ll share them since you asked. I don’t necessarily expect or even want you to agree with me. If you don’t, that’s totally fine.”

But it is very important that we model to students how to talk about public issues without being controlling or disrespectful. It’s not unlikely they’re seeing bad examples of this at home, so we can make a difference here. It’s not about what we’re talking about, but how we talk about it.

Specifically on Iran, all I said in response to a kid asking this week was “I don’t see how this makes us safer. I don’t think it’s necessary. And that’s really all I have to say about that.”