Politics (not) in schools

Nick Giulioni writes:

The United States stands on the verge of a historic presidential election, one that could dictate the next eight years in this country.  With this in mind, knowledge of the candidates, their policies, and their effects on the voters is extremely important.  But often, information on the candidates can be skewed, or incorrect altogether.  So where are young voters (often the least knowledgeable about politics) supposed to get unbiased information?

Seniors at South Pasadena High must take a class titled civics, which focuses on the political systems of the United States government.  It seems to me that this would be a terrific opportunity to study the candidates, deviate from the curriculum, and learn some real-world applications of the text.  Unfortunately, this was impossible because of the school’s requirement that classes be nonpartisan and the teacher’s own desire not to impose her own political opinions on her students (a respectable goal.)

I can understand the school’s reluctance to speak of current events, with the election as heated as it is.  In the small community I live in, word would spread fast, and I know that certain parents would complain, feeling that “their” candidate had been underrepresented, no matter how well the teacher approached the topic.  I can also understand why the teacher would like to protect herself from such parents by opting not to bring the topic up in class.

The 2008 election will be my first opportunity to cast a ballot and possibly make a difference in my government, but feel I have missed an opportunity to maximize an opportunity to learn much more about our government.  Yes, learning about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the three branches of government are important, it seems much more relevant to learn about our government today.

Comments

[Chica]

I completely understand the situation you are addressing. I am going to be voting for the first time too this November and I wish I didn't have to learn everything all on my own. Que hacemos?

[Chica]

I completely understand the situation you are addressing. I am going to be voting for the first time too this November and I wish I didn't have to learn everything all on my own. Que hacemos?