- Joined
- Nov 27, 2005
- Messages
- 67,946
- Reaction score
- 3,861
- Staff
- #1
<div align="center">Is it in High School?</div>
I wrote this article for my journalism class. Let me know what you think, and perhaps we can even debate over it if anyone has any opposing viewpoints.
<div align="center">-------------------------------------------------------------</div>
Election Day, 2036. Millions of people have just turned off their hologram projectors after hours of mourning the death of legendary film actor Leonardo DiCaprio, star of films such as Titanic and The Departed.
They reluctantly get into their flying cars and drive twenty miles to the polling stations, arriving in just under three minutes.
They step into the poll booth and find a few names on the ballot, none of which they recognize. They know that there is a Democrat and a Republican, so because they are a Republican they vote for that candidate.
Little did they know that the Republican was one of the few remaining neoconservatives and that they were relying on the ignorance of the general public to vote for them, because the now President-elect knew that no one paid attention to politics. After inauguration day, the new President implements radical changes and eventually paves the way for the rise of the American Empire, with him as it’s sole ruler.
This is obviously a very farfetched version of the near future, but it does show the route that many believe the United States is taking.
The University of Connecticut took a survey of High School students and found startling results. The study found that 36% of the students surveyed felt that newspapers should get government approval before publishing. 32% felt that the newspapers enjoy too much freedom.
The Daily Orange, the campus newspaper of Syracuse University, stated that if these students had expressed these views based on knowledge of the First Amendment, then it would be more acceptable, yet still foolish, to hold these views.
Maureen Startzyl, a Political Science teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School, was taken aback by these statistics. “Freedom of the Press is incredibly important,” Startzyl said, pointing to such scandals as the Walter Reed Hospital and the Abu Ghraib Prison scandal. “Journalism is the fourth estate.”
Statistics such as these beg a very important question: are High School students politically aware and are they in the position to make an informed position?
Peter Karycki, Principal of Hunterdon Central, would like to think so. However, he does believe that students should be more politically aware than they are now. “It will allow them to take sides,” Karycki said, though he remains optimistic that Hunterdon Central has done an outstanding job at allowing students to become informed. “If there was a survey of all High School students in New Jersey,” he said, “it’s safe to say that Hunterdon Central would be up there.”
Still, these statistics show that many High School students are not politically aware, even if Hunterdon Central students are. Something has to be done about this problem, but The Daily Orange has suggested that students cannot be expected to take the extra steps to become aware. The responsibility, therefore, would fall into the hands of the education system.
“I incorporate old fashioned civics into my history classes,” Startzyl said. In her United States History I classes, she teachers her students forms of government and in her United States History II class, she relates many issues from the World War II issue to today’s world, using our modern social security issues as a prime example. “I believe a conscious effort is required in the curriculum.”
Karycki believes that it’s not only history classes that can help, but rather any class that requires critical thinking. “Teachers need to constantly provide students with opportunities,” he said. “There is a real emphasis on math and science because they promote critical thinking.”
Karycki, a teacher during the Vietnam War, acknowledges that students were far more involved in politics during the late 1960s and early 1970s, as many students protested to bring an end to the Vietnam War. He himself supported the protests, because it allowed younger people to become involved in world affairs. “That is America,” he said.
What do students have to say about this? Do they believe that they are in a position to make an informed decision? Dan Tighe, a senior at St. Joseph’s High School in Metuchen, NJ, doesn’t seem to think so.
“High School students have a lack of interest at this point in their lives,” he said. “The only way they will become interested is if their parents push it enough.”
Tighe suggests that the reason is because there is a lack of interest and they simply have too many activities to watch the evening news or even read the morning paper. These are only a few reasons discussed in his AP United States Government class. “You have to keep up on it or you won’t understand it,” he said.
Unlike Karycki and Startzyl, however, Tighe does not believe there is much the education system can do at this point. “It’s not the system as much as it is the kids,” he said. “At my school, I’m taking AP United States Government and there is an Inside Politics class as well.” They also discuss politics in his history class.
Tighe was also exposed to politics at an early age, as his father, Tom Tighe, is involved with it through union work. “If I had any questions,” he said, “he would answer them.”
John Kidd, a senior at Hunterdon Central, as a slightly different opinion than Tighe about whether or not students are aware. “Juniors and seniors are,” Kidd said. “The younger grades haven’t had enough experience in a more adult-like setting to understand how politics works.”
Kidd believes that younger students base their opinions directly off of the opinions of their parents, but when they grow older they are able to develop their own opinions based on the unique experiences they end up having.
“Parents should also encourage their children to make a decision,” he said, stating that this is especially true with High School seniors who are about to vote, “but they should try to have as little effect on that decision as possible. They need to make sure that they’re kids are being presented with both cases so they can be fully aware.”
Like Tighe, Kidd also believes that there is a lack of interest in particular cases, though he realizes that students are interested in many other cases.
“All students want action in Darfur,” he said. “The problem is that they don’t know what that action should be, nor do they understand the repercussions of their proposed actions.”
Kidd believes that students should be taught to understand the importance of the welfare of the population, which would entail greater education.
“Just because they are done with High School doesn’t mean everyone else is done,” he said. “They have to keep an eye to the future of the system.”
Many have suggested that outside organizations could help as well, provided students become motivated to join them. Organizations such as Boy Scouts, Churches, Amnesty International, Model United Nations and many others offer a vast array of learning experiences. There is, however, a downside to that.
“It’s hard to see how to put politics out there without being negative,” Startzyl said. She also expresses concern that many organizations hold biases which would not let students learn the full story about an issue.
“They can really join any club that encourages working together for a common good,” Kidd said, “especially those that encourage the common good of those that are not a member of that organization.”
Kidd realizes, however, that simply joining one of these organizations is not enough. “You could have a candy drive to raise money for the homeless,” he said. “The money would go to a needy cause whether than money for the organization. Eventually, everyone will give something so that, in the long run, everyone will benefit.”
There does seem to be a general consensus: much more needs to be done, and everyone can have a hand in fixing this rapidly growing problem.
If people like Maureen Startzyl and John Kidd keep doing what they are doing, then by election day in November, 2036, we certainly will not have to worry about the rise of an American Empire.
I wrote this article for my journalism class. Let me know what you think, and perhaps we can even debate over it if anyone has any opposing viewpoints.
<div align="center">-------------------------------------------------------------</div>
Election Day, 2036. Millions of people have just turned off their hologram projectors after hours of mourning the death of legendary film actor Leonardo DiCaprio, star of films such as Titanic and The Departed.
They reluctantly get into their flying cars and drive twenty miles to the polling stations, arriving in just under three minutes.
They step into the poll booth and find a few names on the ballot, none of which they recognize. They know that there is a Democrat and a Republican, so because they are a Republican they vote for that candidate.
Little did they know that the Republican was one of the few remaining neoconservatives and that they were relying on the ignorance of the general public to vote for them, because the now President-elect knew that no one paid attention to politics. After inauguration day, the new President implements radical changes and eventually paves the way for the rise of the American Empire, with him as it’s sole ruler.
This is obviously a very farfetched version of the near future, but it does show the route that many believe the United States is taking.
The University of Connecticut took a survey of High School students and found startling results. The study found that 36% of the students surveyed felt that newspapers should get government approval before publishing. 32% felt that the newspapers enjoy too much freedom.
The Daily Orange, the campus newspaper of Syracuse University, stated that if these students had expressed these views based on knowledge of the First Amendment, then it would be more acceptable, yet still foolish, to hold these views.
Maureen Startzyl, a Political Science teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School, was taken aback by these statistics. “Freedom of the Press is incredibly important,” Startzyl said, pointing to such scandals as the Walter Reed Hospital and the Abu Ghraib Prison scandal. “Journalism is the fourth estate.”
Statistics such as these beg a very important question: are High School students politically aware and are they in the position to make an informed position?
Peter Karycki, Principal of Hunterdon Central, would like to think so. However, he does believe that students should be more politically aware than they are now. “It will allow them to take sides,” Karycki said, though he remains optimistic that Hunterdon Central has done an outstanding job at allowing students to become informed. “If there was a survey of all High School students in New Jersey,” he said, “it’s safe to say that Hunterdon Central would be up there.”
Still, these statistics show that many High School students are not politically aware, even if Hunterdon Central students are. Something has to be done about this problem, but The Daily Orange has suggested that students cannot be expected to take the extra steps to become aware. The responsibility, therefore, would fall into the hands of the education system.
“I incorporate old fashioned civics into my history classes,” Startzyl said. In her United States History I classes, she teachers her students forms of government and in her United States History II class, she relates many issues from the World War II issue to today’s world, using our modern social security issues as a prime example. “I believe a conscious effort is required in the curriculum.”
Karycki believes that it’s not only history classes that can help, but rather any class that requires critical thinking. “Teachers need to constantly provide students with opportunities,” he said. “There is a real emphasis on math and science because they promote critical thinking.”
Karycki, a teacher during the Vietnam War, acknowledges that students were far more involved in politics during the late 1960s and early 1970s, as many students protested to bring an end to the Vietnam War. He himself supported the protests, because it allowed younger people to become involved in world affairs. “That is America,” he said.
What do students have to say about this? Do they believe that they are in a position to make an informed decision? Dan Tighe, a senior at St. Joseph’s High School in Metuchen, NJ, doesn’t seem to think so.
“High School students have a lack of interest at this point in their lives,” he said. “The only way they will become interested is if their parents push it enough.”
Tighe suggests that the reason is because there is a lack of interest and they simply have too many activities to watch the evening news or even read the morning paper. These are only a few reasons discussed in his AP United States Government class. “You have to keep up on it or you won’t understand it,” he said.
Unlike Karycki and Startzyl, however, Tighe does not believe there is much the education system can do at this point. “It’s not the system as much as it is the kids,” he said. “At my school, I’m taking AP United States Government and there is an Inside Politics class as well.” They also discuss politics in his history class.
Tighe was also exposed to politics at an early age, as his father, Tom Tighe, is involved with it through union work. “If I had any questions,” he said, “he would answer them.”
John Kidd, a senior at Hunterdon Central, as a slightly different opinion than Tighe about whether or not students are aware. “Juniors and seniors are,” Kidd said. “The younger grades haven’t had enough experience in a more adult-like setting to understand how politics works.”
Kidd believes that younger students base their opinions directly off of the opinions of their parents, but when they grow older they are able to develop their own opinions based on the unique experiences they end up having.
“Parents should also encourage their children to make a decision,” he said, stating that this is especially true with High School seniors who are about to vote, “but they should try to have as little effect on that decision as possible. They need to make sure that they’re kids are being presented with both cases so they can be fully aware.”
Like Tighe, Kidd also believes that there is a lack of interest in particular cases, though he realizes that students are interested in many other cases.
“All students want action in Darfur,” he said. “The problem is that they don’t know what that action should be, nor do they understand the repercussions of their proposed actions.”
Kidd believes that students should be taught to understand the importance of the welfare of the population, which would entail greater education.
“Just because they are done with High School doesn’t mean everyone else is done,” he said. “They have to keep an eye to the future of the system.”
Many have suggested that outside organizations could help as well, provided students become motivated to join them. Organizations such as Boy Scouts, Churches, Amnesty International, Model United Nations and many others offer a vast array of learning experiences. There is, however, a downside to that.
“It’s hard to see how to put politics out there without being negative,” Startzyl said. She also expresses concern that many organizations hold biases which would not let students learn the full story about an issue.
“They can really join any club that encourages working together for a common good,” Kidd said, “especially those that encourage the common good of those that are not a member of that organization.”
Kidd realizes, however, that simply joining one of these organizations is not enough. “You could have a candy drive to raise money for the homeless,” he said. “The money would go to a needy cause whether than money for the organization. Eventually, everyone will give something so that, in the long run, everyone will benefit.”
There does seem to be a general consensus: much more needs to be done, and everyone can have a hand in fixing this rapidly growing problem.
If people like Maureen Startzyl and John Kidd keep doing what they are doing, then by election day in November, 2036, we certainly will not have to worry about the rise of an American Empire.
