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Throughout the history
of our nation, Americans have fought to secure and
preserve the right of each citizen to participate in
and influence the democratic process. Our nation,
however, lags behind other industrial nations in
participation at the ballot box. Consider that over
the past five Presidential election cycles, only
once did more than 50 percent of eligible voters
cast a ballot for President. That is tragic given
how much we know our government affects our daily
lives.
How do we change
that? We must start with those who we know have the
opportunity before them to make a difference and
make positive change to our society, namely our
youth. I believe civics education is a central in
helping our young people become more engaged members
of their communities and our nation as responsible
and informed citizens. This after all is part and
parcel of our noble tradition of democratic
participation.
The most logical place
to start is of course in our schools where a
curriculum including civics education is essential.
There is nothing more important than teaching
students the skills to be active citizens - we must
engage them in studies of civics, government, and
community. Students should also be encouraged to
volunteer, hold mock elections, keep up on current
events, and stage debates.
I have witnessed the
fruits of youth civic participation with every
school group that has visited me in Washington, D.C.
over the years. There have been countless students
from all corners of Maine and of all ages.
Recently, I have met with students from the
Congressional Youth Leadership Council, National
Youth Leadership Council, Presidential Classroom,
and the U.S. Senate Youth Program – these are
programs that I believe more students should take
advantage of.
One exceptional class
in particular will be coming down to Washington at
the end of April that will make all of Maine proud
is a class from Catherine McAuley High School in
Portland. It has been chosen to represent the state
of Maine in the National Civics Competition on the
U.S. Constitution. By understanding our government
and the guiding principles upon which it was
founded, these students become the promise of their
generation and hopefully will some day walk the
halls of Congress representing the people of Maine.
After all, I can tell you that participation in
student government was what led me to a life of
public service.
There are other things
that we can do to inspire young people. Parents and
other adults must also remember their obligation to
the next generation by remembering that their
actions have meaning – and consequences. We act as
role models because those who vote and volunteer are
more likely to have children who will do the same.
Luckily, there are numerous ways to get involved in
our communities, including volunteering for a
charity, running for local government, and
participating in community organizations.
We also must remain
committed to knowledge as an educated citizenry
makes more informed decisions about their town,
state, and the nation. And of course, it is
imperative that everyone remembers to vote. Voting
is the best way to participate in our representative
democracy and one of the most efficient methods of
making sure each individual voice is heard.
To increase the civic
engagement of America’s youth is to invest in our
future. People must be empowered to create positive
change in their communities and to engage our next
generation to participate in our society. They are
our best hope for a prosperous and bright future.
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