Young people bring a new perspective to the concept of leadership. Their age suggests limitations to what is seen as conventional markers of leadership, however they still have the ability to lead or influence others within a given context. Freire argues that knowledge gained from ‘living experience’ should not be rejected or valued less than ‘developed’ knowledge. Living experience plays a valid part in understanding the larger context. Young people may not understand the complexities of the democratic system and broader contexts, but this does not invalidate their worldview and living experience of how the decisions made impact them. Moreover, their living experience brings detail and richness to the decision-making process. However, young people can be easily marginalized in the decision-making processes, largely due to the lack of legal standing when under the age of eighteen. Young people who are unable to vote are largely left to other measures such as protests and petitions (Freire). Empowerment is, therefore, critical to the participation for them to become active in the context and power relationships they are involved in. Empowered young people hold elected representatives and other delegates accountable for the decisions they make, and the power they have been …show more content…
Is it under the constitution that the government is obligated to engage young people in decision-making? Has the government ratified a strategic action plan unique for young people? In order for young people to be decision-makers on policies that affect them, the government, young people and community organizations need to increase awareness of the importance of youth engagement and participation. Once the positive effects of youth participation are acknowledged, negative stereotypes of young people will be eliminated, helping young Americans climb higher on the ladder of youth participation in local
Thousands of these young adults are politically informed, politically active and have the concerns and demands many of the people who actually vote have. However, the youth of Canada also have concerns of their own which they are unable to address substantially. People under the age of eighteen for the most part are concerned in matters much different than say an employed thirty five-year-old. The youth under eighteen still are in high school they are concerned about as a grade 10 student from Western Canada High School put "class sizes, teacher disputes, and minimum wage", (Thompson) among other things. He later goes on to state the fact that by the time he has indeed graduated and become eighteen years old, he will no longer be interested in class sizes nor teacher disputes, therefore he will not address them in his decision on who he decided to vote for. This is a very valid argument and it is also true for the most part to say that the voices of these concerned children should be heard via the vote of their parents. The government of Canada sees the parents as a voice for their children, however parents inevitably will vote in a bias towards their needs such as tax cuts. Without the availability and opportunity to vote and voice their opinions in an electoral system the youth of Canada are left to impact the political process in other ways. Thousands of youth are involved in political parties, political rallies and interest groups
Explain the importance of active participation of children and young people in decisions affecting their lives The importance of active participation of children and young people in decisions affecting their lives is you can find out what the child or family actually want or need. It’s very important to listen to their views and communicate with parents and respect their points of view you need to communicate well with children and take into account that young children may use non-verbal communication. If children and young people are given chances on what activity they would like to do they are making a decision which can help them become confident every week we let the children choose which part of the school they would
Since 1972, youth voter turnout has been on the decline. According to the Child Trends Databank, 50 percent of Americans aged 18 to 24 participated in the 1972 presidential election (2015). Nearly three decades later, the percentage of young adults aged 18 to 24 who voted in the 2000 presidential election had dropped eighteen
Political inactivity on the part of young Americans stems from one fundamental source -- a general cynicism of the American political process. This disdain for politics is further perpetuated by a lack of voter education and a needlessly archaic voting procedure that creates barriers to voting where they need not exist. While many of these existing problems can be rectified with relative ease through the implementation of programs such as Internet voting and better voter education, such programs create only a partial solution.
The message emerging from a recent research series on youth civic and political participation is clear: today's youth are not disjoined from associational and small political life, but they are increasingly disenchanted with formal political institutions and practices. Children and youth under 18 have made sententious strides in recent years toward fuller involvement in democratic processes. These strides,
You are an American teenager who has joined forces with other teenagers who have been dissatisfied with “the powers that be”. You and your colleagues do not feel “the powers that be” are representing you and your interests. As a result, you have decided to rebel against the tyrannical “adultarchy” and declare your independence. The goal of this declaration is to ensure that the interests and rights of teenagers are recognized and protected.
At 16 we are considered as young adults – accepting responsibilities of our own action – should we not then be treated as one too and hold a position in the political world to prove that we can be trusted to cast our vote wisely. Who is to say at what age we have entered the adulthood mentally and are mature enough, responsible enough to finally be able to vote. Giving the vote to young adults would force politicians to take our needs and desires more seriously instead of it being neglected. By not allowing
In Margaret Adsett’s article on young voters in Canada, she discusses the growing problem of low youth involvement in politics. In the paper, she tries to explain why the number of young voters has gone down from 70 per cent to 40 per cent between 1970 and 2000.
In order to have a government that doesn’t fear innovation, the youth’s unlimited opinions would be an appreciable resource. For youth to understand the power and abilities they have, something needs to be done about the education system. As mentioned in the “Education” video, John Stossel said, “It’s the people my age, who are in charge, are holding you people back” in regards to youth not reaching their full potential. How are youth supposed to understand their worth is more than a grade when the same old education system is telling them different? How can youth, who are the future of the country, change the government when no one tells them that they are capable to create innovational breakthroughs? Government oversight is hurting the people that it is trying to help the most because they do not know what to do to help
In the article “Takoma Park 16-year-old Savors his History-Making Moment at the Polls,” written by Annys Shin, the author focuses on whether or not lowering the voting age from 18 is a good idea towards politics, by looking at the benefits and the disadvantages of both sides. In 2013, the city of Takoma Park was the first to lower the voting age to 16 and change the 26th Amendment in their municipal. Ben Miller and other 16- and 17-year-olds were capable of stepping into a booth and casting their vote at the Takoma Park Community Center. Allowing this age group to cast a vote will lead more teenagers to vote than their older peers, it will get them into the habit of voting for the rest of their lives, and it will also increase their personal
I believe that the college-age generation in America should be more active in public and political life, particularly regarding the policies of the United States Congress that concern important issues such as women’s rights, workplace discrimination, and healthcare.
For children and young people involvement in decisions, they must first be given the sense of control and choice as appropriate. This is allowing them to own the process of planning from the commencement to implementation. However, the professionals must offer support but with little interference. Their needs must be listened to and ideas should inform planning as this may give them control. Professional support can be through discussing targets for work or behaviour. Children and young people may need the support to sail through with their own live. The supports need to emanate from a range of people especially the parents. Also, professionals including parents and carers must ensure to give constructive feedback. Negative comments can demoralize
“Young people are interested in politics, and do have faith in the democratic process. Nonetheless, the political system and the established parties and politicians that dominate it, are together failing to
My article from the Monkey Cage is titled “What makes young people more excited about politics? Deciding how to spend municipal budgets”. This article talked about how much the young adult voter turnout rate is very low, but is beginning to rise due to the topic of participatory budgeting. I learned that participatory budgeting is basically a type of democracy, in which ordinary people get to decide where the public budget goes to the reason that youth are interested in participatory budgeting, is because they feel like their voice is actually being heard. In addition, youth like it when young people approach them about politics better when someone older does so because they feel like their more equal. It also states that youth think, it is
Throughout the history of America young people have always played a crucial role in politics. The famous writer Srirangam Srinivas wrote, “Our country is not in the hands of lazy and corrupted old politicians, this country is ours i.e. youth”. Young people between the ages 18 to 25 are the future of this country and its political system. The young people of America have a responsibility to be involved with politics and with their civic duties. The youth in America must be involved in politics to ensure that America stays a country of freedom, and to combat the corruption in politics, they must also be involved with their civic duties in order to give back to their country and to leave a legacy of political and civic participation