Why is it important to teach our students political competency and activism?

By Lucien Wallace, December 2, 2020

In order for a democracy to work for its citizens, there must be open communication between elected officials and their constituents. Perhaps the most vital form of this communication is political activism. When the government is not fulfilling its duties, it is important that people be given the tools to come out and say this. If students are ignorant of political activism, those who crave political power are left unchecked. The diverse backgrounds and perspectives in America aren't worth anything if people are not able to voice their opinions or contribute their perspective. Therefore, universities and highschools should feel obligated to not only educate their students about voting in elections, but also to teach other ways for students to voice their opinions through civil discourse.

Despite the overwhelming evidence of anthropogenic global climate change, very little has been accomplished politically to stop it. In order for this to change, people must voice their discontent through political activism to make politicians do something. Most people in the education profession recognize the serious danger of climate change, yet few are willing to encourage or teach their students to participate in political activities that can make a difference. Recognizing a problem and not doing anything to fix it is just as bad, if not worse, than being ignorant of the issue in the first place. It is not an educator’s place to force students to be politically active, but it is their duty to teach students about opportunities to participate in politics directly.