Discovering Political Involvement
By Teresa Ambord
Ask most young people about their view on politics and you'll find they don't have any. Traditionally, in the 18-25 age group, less than 29 percent tend to vote. Some say they are too busy to think about politics. Others believe their votes wouldn't count anyway, or that all politicians are corrupt, so why bother. A study by the National Association of Secretaries of State revealed that only one teenager in four felt elected officials care about issues that affect them. Whether these are excuses or facts, young people need to take part in the political process that affects their daily lives.
Some adults who realize how vital it is for kids to care about government are doing something about it. If you want to get your kids involved, here are some ideas from other parents:
- Take them with you when you vote. This shows them your positive attitude toward voting, and that you consider it a priority. If your kids continually hear your criticizing politicians and the political process, they'll develop negative attitudes about participating. Many young people who do not vote, learned that bad habit from their parents.
- Talk about politics at the dinner table sometimes. Your kids need to hear what you think and to know that you consider things outside your family's world important. And they need to know how national and world events affect their lives so they'll be interested in helping make those decisions when they are old enough to vote. A survey shows that only about 21% of young people regularly talk with their parents about current events as they grow up.
- Watch the national news together. When you hear your kids complain about something, for example, when they get their first paychecks and wonder why so much tax was taken out, that's a great opportunity. You can explain how and why taxes increase and decrease. And you may be able to tell them how the major political parties view taxes...just try to do it factually, without partisanship. Or when your teen gets his driver's license and bemoans the abundance of driving regulations, that's a good time to explain that citizens who are not happy with laws have a chance to help change them by getting involved.
- When kids mention complaints, like those above, encourage them to write letters to the appropriate political leaders to express their concerns.
Here are two Web sites from the state of Georgia (but helpful to anyone) for Young Republicans and Young Democrats that might be eye-opening for teenagers to check out:
Schools Can Help or Hurt
Schools have an unfortunately poor history of teaching kids about political involvement. Some would argue this point because in the last decade or so, many teachers and administrators have taken up the practice of pushing their personal political views on students, while ignoring, or even demonizing the opposing views. Teaching students about the importance of political involvement requires teaching both sides of the issues without bias, and encouraging kids to think for themselves.
Take a look at the ways some schools are getting involved without choosing sides:
In the lead up to the 2004 presidential election, many schools, from elementary to high schools held mock elections. For example, Uxbridge High School in Massachusetts. Republican, Democrat, and Green Party views were represented. Issues such as abortion, stem cell research, and the war in Iraq were discussed intelligently. Kids who otherwise felt they had no voices were allowed to be heard without being put down.
The hope, of course, is that by sparking interest in kids and showing them that they can make a difference and be heard, they will become lifelong voters. And they will learn how they can participate in changing the status quo if necessary, rather than just complaining about it as too many people, both young and old do.