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Created on: March 04, 2007 Last Updated: March 19, 2008
Young people should be taught government and politics in a school setting, in a classroom or workshop.
They should discuss current events, political figures, current and historical. They should be taught something about political science.
They can also participate in student activism on local, national, and global issues that are important to them. However, children should be taught, if possible, within an atmosphere in which there is adult guidance. Children should not be "indoctrinated" and play roles prematurely for them as children.
They can participate in politics in their schools by having elections, running for president, vice president, secretary. They can play these roles in their classes and they can deal with these political issues within the context and supervision of their schools and schooling.
They should also be taught leadership, and the values of principles of leaders, and be taught practical politics.
In addition, they should be taught that if they are not the political type and politics and political activism is not for them, they should not try to be a person they are not. What is the best way for them to work on these issues? Perhaps they are better at writing articles for the school news paper on such issues as global warming, the war, immigration, racism, etc. And what are the practical things that they can do about these problems according to their abilities and personality types?
Politics should be among the many things they learn along with other subjects. Where are their best talents and abilities?
Perhaps that young person is a better scientist than a politician. A better mathematician. How can they make use of these abilities to help in the political arena and the arena of political ideas and ideal? Perhaps that youth is more of a spiritual type than a political activist? How can they make use of their spiritual identity in helping with the so-called political problems?
Many youths don't know yet who they are, and so politics and political activism must be among their many subjects, but they do not have to decide upon this as their role yet. There are many opportunities for political involvement in the school itself and with groups of other youths, such as the youths who attended the immigration rally, or racism workshops, or fundraisers for the needy.
These youths can also have apprenticeships with real-world political figures and learn how to work on political campaigns, but again with the understanding that they are youths just learning-and again politics is among the many different subject that they must learn and "master."
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