It is no surprise that liberal viewpoints dominate at Cherry Hill High School East, and in New Jersey more broadly. According to New Jersey voter registration data from 2025, Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by roughly 850,000. Even with this political imbalance, one would expect East — a school that prides itself on fostering a “welcoming environment” with “community, diversity and school spirit” — to encourage dialogue from both sides of the political aisle. Instead, that mindset is rarely the case. Students who hold conservative beliefs increasingly face exclusion, if not outright hostility, from their more liberal peers. The political climate at East needs to be addressed if the administration truly wants students to graduate as open-minded and civically engaged citizens.
“Non-liberals will be witch-hunted if they express their opinions publicly at this school,” said an anonymous student in a survey about how East students form their political opinions. Though that sentiment may be unspoken, it is far from nonexistent. Every student I asked to speak on the record about East’s stance towards conservatives refused, citing concerns that they would be harassed or otherwise threatened.
Classroom environments, influenced by both students and teachers, can make right-leaning students feel that voicing their thoughts is pointless or even dangerous, despite history and English classes emphasizing the importance of free expression and considering others’ perspectives. When students expect themselves to be ostracized and their opinions to be dismissed without a second thought, what does that teach them besides withdrawing from conversation altogether? This atmosphere teaches isolation, not tolerance.
“I think that East prides itself on [its diverse environment] purely for the public aspect, when in reality there’s not a lot of internal feelings of safety,” said another anonymous East student.
The fact that students at East feel unsafe expressing their political beliefs is an issue that should not be taken lightly. Teachers, especially in classes where these discussions are likely to arise, should actively work to facilitate respectful and balanced dialogue — not to shut it down. Moreover, they should refrain from contributing their own political beliefs, which can set a certain tone in their class and dissuade students from participating. Of course, boundaries should be enforced when they veer into personal or identity-based attacks, but disagreement should not be treated as a transgression.
Open conversation is especially necessary in our increasingly polarized society; divided communities are exactly what drives extremism on both ends of the political spectrum. Echo chambers, where students only have ears for ideas that align with their own beliefs, isolate opposing viewpoints and entrench assumptions — even incorrect ones. Studies have shown that people have a confirmation bias, where they tend to seek out and remember information that aligns with their pre-existing views. High school is one of the few times in someone’s life when they are constantly exposed to peers with differing perspectives.
“You should be able to talk it out,” said the student. “Discourse and talking are the only ways to get to a place where people can coexist…else you’re never going to get to a place where you can actually understand the other side.”
Without the ability to engage in civil discourse, East students are at risk of leaving school comfortable with agreement but unfamiliar with much else.
