Politics needs to be taught in schools from the age of 11 onwards as a compulsory subject. If we want to start engaging the population in political discussion in a bid to defeat the tide of apathy, we need to get people involved at an early age. Teaching children the basics at the start – the history of the vote (Chartists, Suffragettes), how our system works, how the EU works, different types of political beliefs and so on – would ensure that we don’t have a wave of ignorance towards our democratic system and politics in general. Pupils, once they have the background knowledge of the ‘way it works’, can debate with each other about current affairs. This will, guided by a teacher as a mediator, help children to learn about all sides of an argument, allowing an informed opinion. It would quash extremism, because extremist belief is based around ignorance or bigotry – both on the left and right.
Getting kids fired up about current affairs rather than celebrity or sports gossip is essential to our future as a country. If we can create a system whereby we get a generation of politically informed adults, whose opinions have foundations in core knowledge of politics and an understanding of the opposing views, we’d find ourselve in a much more progressive society, free from the intolerance and bigotry that plagues us today.
Thank you for posting your opinions, you have just answered my question, as it’s been a few years since I attended school. I was curious to see if this had changed and indeed if Politics had been added to the National Curriculum. It is very sad to see that this is not the case.
I am currently studying A level Politics through an open learning college since I was never taught anything about our democratic system in school. I have just returned from living in Latin America for some time. Whilst there some of my closer friends were surprised when they discovered some gaps in my political knowledge. All had studied Politics to some depth and participation, understanding and debate is all taken for granted.
How can a subject which effects our daily lives be over looked and not included. Some have commented it is because the politicians could influence our future decisions and preferred ideologies etc. However I don’t agree, especially if the back ground is taught “the way it works”, so people at least have the opportunity to reach their own conclusions.
Then I guess what government wants a sharp open-minded population that can work things out for themselves. However this fast becoming an embarrassment. How will we have clout on the International stage if the British people become a laughing stock. We’ve seen this happen to the Americans.