Schools hustings - where was everybody?

[kaspar]

2nd hand information that only about 20 young people turned up at Hautlieu School yesterday for the school hustings!


Where was everybody? Why so few? Apathy on behalf of Jersey's young people, or poor communication/promotion within the education services? Is something sinister at work here?

I know that if we had been given the opportunity to a) vote and b) meet the candidates while I had been at Hautlieu there would have been one hell of a lot more people attending the event in my year alone.

My sister, studying to be a teacher observed that by reducing the vote to 16, it could be making the role of politics LESS present within the education system, preventing teachers from debating the issues for reasons of neutrality.

I hope more 16-18 yr olds still choose to vote...

Kaspar

[kaspar]

Additional information:

1. The school hustings had allegedly been cancelled by the education committee, but were brought back following action from Daniel Wimberley and the 2020 group of candidates.

2. The candidates were asked to pay to cover the expenses incurred by the event. Rent? Tea and biscuits? Seems pretty ridiculous.

3. Some of the students present at the hustings spoke about a lack of promotion, information or encouragement that would have helped secure a higher turn out for the event

You would have thought that the education services would be encouragingstudents to attend and help to make sure that they take place- that young people can engage in local politics and considering important issues that will directly affect their future.

[kaspar]

On a positive note... Daniel did mention that the quality of the questions from the few people who turned up was very high. At times more pressing and to the point than some that have been asked at other hustings meetings.

[markforskitt]

Sept 30, 2008 21:46:32 GMT kaspar said:

Additional information:

1. The school hustings had allegedly been cancelled by the education committee, but were brought back following action from Daniel Wimberley and the 2020 group of candidates.

2. The candidates were asked to pay to cover the expenses incurred by the event. Rent? Tea and biscuits? Seems pretty ridiculous.

3. Some of the students present at the hustings spoke about a lack of promotion, information or encouragement that would have helped secure a higher turn out for the event

You would have thought that the education services would be encouragingstudents to attend and help to make sure that they take place- that young people can engage in local politics and considering important issues that will directly affect their future.

The lack of promotion accords with my feedback from the students too. I agree with Daniel that the quality of the questions was consistently good. You are right, the event would not have happened without the hard work of Daniel, and the financial guarantee of the event by Jersey 2020. The key question is who should be responsible for organising, funding and promoting such an event next time round, and will the education department be pro-actively supportive?

[mac]

I think it's a shame that the States lowered the voting age then do nothing to encourage or introduce the younger generation to the election process

[eastrock]

It's a long time since I was at school and I can only remember wanting to get out of the place as soon as the bell went. To stay behind and listen to boring politicians would of been worse than detention. Of course I see things differently now. Surely the academic year could spare two hours per school out of it's time for such an important event? At the very least the hustings could of taken place during assembly time? It is vital that the young people of today are involved with the decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.

[cyfrin]

Surely someone must ask the question to MV~~~~what did he do to promote this event?
Iread somewhere that incentives could have been given t the students! Great idea
It is shameful so few turned up when the candidates had put in time & effort.

[Nobody]

I'm of the opinion that now the voting age has been lowered to include those still at school, the State has a responsibilty to ensure at least a minimal level of education on local politics for kids old enough to vote - and for them to be educated about why it's so important they use that vote.

The Education Dept. should have the duty of covering any costs of school hustings. And why has nobody thought of opening polling stations in schools for the kids? That would work miracles to up the youth vote.

It's a small price to pay when we're talking of the island's future.

[eastrock]

POOR communication and an unhelpful Education department were at the root of the low turn-out for the students’ hustings, according to a States Deputy and a Senatorial candidate.

www.thisisjersey.com/2008/10/03/students-were-unaware-of-their-hustings-meeting/

[uylenspieghel]

Sept 30, 2008 22:18:05 GMT mac said:

I think it's a shame that the States lowered the voting age then do nothing to encourage or introduce the younger generation to the election process

The same goes for the States launching a £30,000 campaign to fight voter apathy and increase registration and then making it very difficult for people to actually go out and vote. St Helier, for example, has 4 districts, andif you do not know which district you live in, you should call the town hall. Now hold on a minute, you are talking about people that do not really feel like voting in the first place and now that they have been convinced to at least register, you make them jump through hoops to find out where they can go and vote !! Yep, sounds like Jersey democracy to me !

[kaspar]

Back to the youngsters - Question is does lowering the age increase or decrease a future active interest in politics (on any level)?

It might have a negative affect if the educational approach to the elections becomes a) politicised, or b) the schools and teachers get their hands tied to ensure that there are no accusations of influence, etc