Inspiring or depressing?
So, I teach a high school class on US Government. We just started the new trimester with a new group of students. The first thing I wanted to do was to show them why it's so important to pay attention to what's going on in politics and government. So I gave them these articles that were published in Rolling Stone before the 2006 elections entitled "The Worst Congress Ever" and "The Ten Worst Congressment". For the most part, I think the students were horrified into paying attention, at least for a little while. Just for fun, I decided to check on the 10 worst congressmen, to see who had been re-elected. Suprise, suprise - 8 of the 10 were sent back to DC for 2 more years. When I told this to the class, their jaws dropped. I'm just not sure if that inspired them to get involved and make the world a better place - or to quit trying completely.

Reader Comments
  
I'm gonna go with inspiring
By PeaceChicken Feb 28th 2007 at 4:15 pm EST
..that's the beauty of young people, their idealism is harder to snuff out. I would think it'd be a good wake-up call to them, how things really work. What they choose to do with that call is up to them.

The best you can do is show them what's up and what they can do about it. You gave them some action steps after that, right? So if they *do* want to get involved they can know a way or two to do that?
Re: I'm gonna go with inspiring
By Mara Marcom Mar 1st 2007 at 10:42 am EST
We are working on things that they can do. They have an always available extra credit option of writing an elected official about an issue that's personally important, and we have an upcoming project on researching members of Congress.
Any other ideas that I'm overlooking? I'm always open for suggestions ...
  
Don't Give Up
By Daily Outrage Feb 28th 2007 at 7:56 pm EST
I am the mother of two teenagers. They care. They listen. They support gay marriage and can't understand why many of their parents do not. The got Bush before many voters did. And they want to save the planet. I've been so impressed by this generation and they give me hope that their lives and the lives of their children will be brighter, cleaner and more tolerant.

Keep after these young people!
  
You are One
By Carol Cogitating Feb 28th 2007 at 9:01 pm EST
Mara- I applaud your efforts. Unfortunately, (so my teenage son tells me), none of his friends read the newspaper or listen to the news. That is probably because none of their parents read the newspaper or listen to the news! My kids, on the other hand, will rush in from all points to see Keith Olbermann's show. My daughter has gained quite a political voice, and I owe that to a middleschool teacher, who like you, took the time to introduce the class to the political process in a meaningful way (Rolling Stone is more hip than Mom). Keep it up!
  



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