With the Ohio primary looming, I can't help but feel a sense of looming doom. Allow me to explain. I got on the bus to go home after a long day at school, and was greeted by what, at first glance, seemed to be a lively, intelligent debate about the presidential candidates. After a few minutes though, I was reminded that there is another demographic, not overlooked but often unspoken of. The ignorant. The big question they were contemplating was should they vote democratic, for Hillary (The only person, other than DENNIS! that I know of to run for office by their first name, primarily) or republican, for Obama. Now, I am in no way implying that these people are stupid, because they truly believed what they were saying, they just didn't know. I listened for a few minutes, but couldn't bear it when they began discussing the free trade policy, you know, the policy that allow places like EBay to function. So I spoke up, "Did you guys know, Obama is actually democratic too." Now, on buses in Cleveland people don't really do that, so I was hoping they wouldn't get offended and jump me, but I figured the risk was worth it. After a few awkward seconds, one finally responded with a "No Way!" And I realized that they were more embarrassed than offended. "Why would they debate if they're on the same team?" (No kidding, this is what they said!) As I respectfully tried to explain how the elections worked, I couldn't help but wonder how many others didn't understand the process. Now, I'm not claiming to have any superior knowledge of politics or government, but I know the basics.
So what can be done? Maybe in the future the media should have a bigger emphasis on how the election process works. Libraries could offer programs to teach people about the basics, just to refresh their memories. Something must be done.
Suggestions?
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While this story is a bit silly and laughable, it is also an unfortunate byproduct of an education system far behind what it should be. I don't want to go into the mess of how to imrpove certain test scores in this subject area or that one, but instead to focus on one area: the Political Science department.
It is my belief that EVERY school should make Politcal Science and Economics one of its core classes, or at least a required class SENIOR year. Currently, in my district, citizenship is offered freshman year, and for those that couldn't take it then (transfers, MSTC), a Political Science semester and Economics semester is offered.
But consider that in the Daly City San Francisco Bay Area, my old school district, this class was not offered. It is important that, to become political-literate, students should be pressed to take a government class before they graduate, and money should be allocated to this aspect, if it isn't already.
Agreed! I wasn't really aware that government/political science wasn't a standard, required course in high schools. (I'm a private school girl, and we were required.) Wow, that in itself is kind of incredible, you'd think a government that 'runs' its own schools would want the graduates to know a thing or two about politics.