Blog 1 Young People and Political Engagement
ARE YOUNG PEOPLE JUST DISENGAGED OR LEGAL AGE FOR VOTING NOT YOUNG ENOUGH?
When I turned 18 and voted in a local election and it was not because of a personal interest I had in politics. My family would vote every year and their views on voting influenced me to vote. However, when I was in sixth form and decided to take up sociology as one of my subjects that was when my interest in politics really began. In my first year at a levels I covered a module called Education. I learnt about various education policies put in place in different years by the political parties that have achieved electoral victory and take charge until the next election. In 2014 then secretary of state education Michael Gove made an impact on my views in politics and wanting change in the education system. The messy education system he had created for a levels, where some people did modular and some linear and changing the grading system to numbers and all this happening half through the academic year. Doing a linear paper meant not retaking and therefore creating lower chances for people to pass. However, in July 2014 his position as secretary of state education had ended and he had been replaced. Many of my colleagues in sociology at a levels shared similar views and had an interest in politics. Discussions created by my a level teacher in lessons about political parties and their educational views gave everyone a better understanding of different political views and to me the importance to vote.
IS THERE A HIDDEN FIGURE OF THE DISENGANGEMENT IN YOUNGSTERS?