Let's get political

Often my students take no real interest in me--what I have to say, who I am, where I came from, etc., etc.  I value those opportunities in which students are engaged and view me as both human and a valuable resource (ie a teacher).  However, there are some questions I am not sure I ought to answer.

In the following instance, I brought it on myself a bit.  I was making some comment/critique of a student's drawing.  I threw in some ridiculous comment like, "Maybe I'm some crazy revolutionary liberal from Minneapolis, but . . ."  and then I think I said that she would have to use more pastel colors than white in order for me to actually be able to see her drawing.  I should have used the word "revolutionary" and skipped "liberal," because with the latter word the group of surrounding students suddenly became focused on politics and they began asking about my current and past political standing.

"What do you think of Obama in his second term?"

"Did you vote for Obama?"

"Are you a Republican or a Democrat?"

Student 1: Would you vote for McCain or Obama?
Teacher: Would I or did I?
Student 2: Did you?
Teacher: I don't think I should say.
Student 1: Why not?
Teacher: Because I'm your teacher and I'm not supposed to influence your political views.
Student 1: No offense, but what you say probably isn't going to affect us at all.
Student 3: Are you a Democrat or a Republican?   (Pause)  You look like a Democrat.
Teacher: (Laughs)
Student 1: We aren't really that interested.  We just want to know because you won't tell us.

They didn't get it out of me, though they did ask me again the next day with, "Did you figure out if you're allowed to tell us or not?"  The most I said about politics was that I didn't vote on party lines but on candidates, which brought a, "So you're an independent!"  This same triumvirate has asked me other questions since, launching them into deep conversations when they out to be drawing, but I try to give them some freedom every now and again when I can see they're not just chatting about petty everyday things, but really hashing out ideas.  I understand that teachers aren't to preach to their students or try to manipulate them in any way, but we are in a position of influence to some degree, and though I don't want to start rousing student support for any candidate, I do hope that I can at least influence them as learners a little bit.