I think this idea is taking the empowering kids a little too far. State Sen Scott White (D-Seattle) wants to give kids as young as 14 the right to vote in school board elections. As the father of two teenage boys who are probably a little more politically engaged than the average teen, there is no way I would want either of them having a role in these kinds of decisions. I just don’t think the thought processes of teenagers are developed well enough to rationally look at the issues and really make informed decisions of this magnitude.
Think about this for a minute. Nearly all teenage boys act like complete knuckleheads when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle. All of them know the statistics. The CDC says that “(M)otor vehicle crashes are the leading cause for US teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group.” Insurance rates for teenage boys are through the roof because of these statistics. They know this, yet they still decide to get behind the wheel and drive much beyond their skill limits. And now someone wants to let people like this vote? Good Grief!
If we let these teenagers vote for school board members, how long will it be before those running for office will tell these kids the things they want to hear? “If elected I promise better food in the cafeteria”, or “A vote for me means you don’t have to run those laps in PE”. Would teachers try to influence the kids, telling them good things about favored candidate and what a lousy so-and-so the other person is? If you don’t think the teachers wouldn’t be activist, then you have your head buried in the sand.
Hopefully this idea gets swept onto the crap heap of bad ideas, and that it happens soon.
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