Kevin McCarthy’s removal made for a timely topic in AP U.S. Government classes

Oct 7, 2023

—

Teacher Christopher Gleditsch leads students in AP U.S. Government class at KIPP DC College Preparatory in Washington, D.C.

Laurel Wamsley/NPR

As high school seniors at KIPP DC College Preparatory in Washington, D.C. took their seats in AP U.S. Government class this week, they were already talking about the day’s lesson: what had just happened in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Well, it happened last night,” said teacher Christopher Gleditsch. He was talking about what he had prepared students for in class a day earlier: the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as Speaker of the House.

He hit play on a video clip showing the vote and its momentous result.

“And with that gavel, history was made. This has never happened before in American history,” Gleditsch told the class.

The timing was good — the class had just covered the legislative branch and its leaders. The upheaval on Capitol Hill was a chance for the class to look at how well — or not — that structure is working right now.

Gleditsch asked why a small group of fellow Republicans went after McCarthy.

“They decided to remove him because he was siding with the Democrats at certain times. … He wasn’t sticking to being a Republican,” answered a student named Sean. (NPR is not using students’ last names because they are minors).