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Get 17-year-olds involved
PUBLISHED 7/2/08 ---- As any high school government teacher can tell you, civic education is sorely lacking in our schools. For every whiz kid who can recite the U.S. Constitution front to back, there are undoubtedly hundreds who, when asked to describe the 15th Amendment, would opt to take the Fifth instead (if only they knew what it said).
10 comments from 8 users
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posted by
witbee
on Jul 2, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Sounds good. posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Jul 2, 2008 at 11:56 AM
"Some will worry that younger voters tend to be more liberal."
Gee, I wonder if that would be conservatives that are worried? Usually they tend to want liberals as far from the voting booth as possible. Personally, I think every single person should be voting, and I don't care how they vote. There's just no excuse for not doing your civic duty. posted by
FloridaStateGrad
on Jul 2, 2008 at 06:01 PM
Maybe they should look at making textbooks more interesting first.. posted by
johnburnssucks
on Jul 2, 2008 at 06:18 PM
My next door neighbor refuses to register to vote; she says that's how they "nail you" for jury duty (they "nailed" me for next Wednesday). posted by
theColorNine
on Jul 2, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Does your next door neighbor drive? They "nail you" for jury duty if you've got a CA driver's license, too.
posted by
catpaw
on Jul 2, 2008 at 09:34 PM
I thought young voter interest was stirred to record interest by the Obama campaign. Maybe it just takes the right message. posted by
catpaw
on Jul 2, 2008 at 09:42 PM
Also, I fail to see the concern. For every whiz kid who recite the Constitution "front to back" I'm sure there are a hundred who could look up the amendments if they wanted to know what they are. Alot of cramming was memorizing facts I forgot as soon as the test was over. posted by
FloridaStateGrad
on Jul 3, 2008 at 07:08 AM
catpaw - I think the point is that there is quite a bit of apathy when it comes to politics, and it all starts in the youth. If the youth vote can be improved, then it can have a trickle effect over time, since my generation will one day be the elder generation, as as long as we've kept up on keeping kids educated the right way regarding our government, they'll be less apathetic and more likely to voice their opinions through the voting process.
A Democracy can only be as sucessful as the amount of citizens who are invested in it. posted by
AudreyB
on Jul 3, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Seventeen year olds are too easily influenced by their teachers, parents and the media to make an informed decision. Would they be willing to do the work to familiarize themselves with the candidates and the issues so they can understand what those candidates and issues hope to accomplish? This is not meant as a criticism, but teens often form opinions based on what "hot" not whats best. And they often think they've come to a decision when it's actually a decision that's been fed to them by their friends.
posted by
randomfactor
on Jul 3, 2008 at 07:51 AM
Seventeen year olds are too easily influenced by their teachers, parents and the media to make an informed decision. Kinda like FoxNews viewers.
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