Donald Trump, the Republican presidential frontrunner and likely nominee, has made it clear by the continuation of his unfiltered mouth that he has no concern about positive role modeling for anybody, let alone very impressionable kids. The Southern Poverty Law Center has released a new study called, "The Trump Effect - The impact of the presidential campaign on our nation's schools." It produces findings that are both powerful and sad.

Almost 2,000 K-12 teachers were surveyed without mentioning specific candidates’ names. Out of 5,000 comments, more than 1,000 mentioned Donald Trump. 

The "Trump Effect" report finds that our current presidential primary season is having a strong negative effect on our children and their classrooms. Unlike any in recent history:

"It's producing an alarming level of fear and anxiety among children of color and inflaming racial and ethnic tensions in the classroom. Many students worry about being deported. Other students have been emboldened by the divisive, often juvenile rhetoric in the campaign. Teachers have noted an increase in bullying, harassment and intimidation of students whose races, religions or nationalities have been the verbal targets of candidates on the campaign trail." 

Our classrooms have traditionally been the place where children learn about a presidential election, its process and role in our democracy. But thanks to campaign 2016, more than 40% of the teachers surveyed are now hesitant to teach about the campaign. "The word Trump is enough to derail a class," says a Texas teacher. Another from Oklahoma says, "My kids are terrified of Trump becoming President. They believe he can/will deport them - and none of them are Hispanic. They are all African American." 

Children being hurt, confused or frightened by what they see at televised Trump rallies is not the way to learn about civic responsibility. Neither is using Trump’s name to taunt and bully classmates.

Trump says he’s going to build a wall on the border with Mexico. The report shows us how that translates in some children’s minds:

“In Tennessee, a kindergarten teacher says a Latino child—told by classmates that he will be deported and trapped behind a wall—asks every day, “Is the wall here yet?”

If anyone wants to be outraged about something, this is it. We have a political season that is blind to seeing itself through the eyes of young people and has fostered one of the most negative Republican frontrunners in history.