Should teenagers get more involved in politics???

gorby107 SG

I feel that teenagers should get involved in politics by knowing the basic of it and no need to go to the extent of it.

As you can see, most of the teenagers are not interested in politics as they are boring and useless to them, but it can control over their life. As the government can do whatever they want to the citizens which is everyone of us. If they don't know the basic of it, it will be quite difficult for them to raise out for eg if their favourite sport is being ban and they feel agitated over it.
One of the reasons of causes that lead them to have no time on it is due to the tons of homework and project we received, same goes apply for me. Even though all this are a challenge to me, I will still find time for that as they are bread and butter issues concerning me as a citizen and the country if not knowing any thing it can be quite a disadvantage for the rest who dunno anything about it. I hope that schools can promote the basic of politics in school in a soft way even though it is a sensitive issue but it is better for them to know better on it rather when they grow up which may be quite torublesome for them. Even though our country is peaceful and stable for now, we need to gear everyone up if there is a political turmoil strike in country which I hope it wouldn't happen. Like that they can gain more in knowledge and also let them to have their brain to function more by the view of thoughts and thinking as I see that everyone out there can excel.

the Bear SG

huh?

EVERYONE should be politically involved!

it is their country as much as anyone else's.. as much as mine, as much as lau lee's...

perhaps even more.. coz the future is theirs.. they are going to inherit the country from us...

yes.. they should get more involved.. way way more!

Chelzea SG

Lim bei here lah Laughing wad u expect us to do ,go on strike and nt go to sch huh Rolling Eyes Mr. Green

gorby107 SG

But I found out that my schoolmates are not so interested in it at first.

But I went talk to them about it, some of them were interested in it and we talk more about it while the rest are not so keen in it, as they only want to focus on their studies and life....

So maybe something must be done in order to change their mindset of thinking ?? Rolling Eyes

Btw do you see teenagers attending election rally

gorby107 SG

I am not saying that we should go on strike and not going to school, but to be more in the politics so that we may have a better understand on it, knowing all those bread and butter issue.

the Bear SG

i would think that it is due to a lot of parents telling their children to "study" and not much else...

and with that, they stop thinking and become apathetic..

it's the same in the US..

however, here, i see that a lot of people are totally ignorant about things going on around them.. like my colleague was actually planning to go to Nepal for a holiday with her husband!

both of them had no idea that Nepal is in chaos and i told her that and she went "orh..." and said "why ah?"

i think a lot of people actually believe that "ignorance is bliss" but the truth is that ignorance will come bite you in the ass eventually...

Chelzea SG

Dont worry,jc students are forced to study abt it in GP Laughing

mhcampboy SG

Maybe the government could implement joining a political party youth wing as part of the CCA. would be an interesting activity. hhahaha

shade343 SG

HOw do you expect teenagers to be politically active if the voting age stays at 21?

udontknowme SG

singapore politics is boring.
and besides, the PAP controls EVERYTHING.
what is the point of getting involved in it when ultimately, the PAP decides everything...
i follow politics in other country. this one...no.

lftwgr SG

Well for a start, there could be a civics subject (non-examinable of course, in case the parents complain) introduced for lower-secondary students.

It's not like we don't have such a subject already, in my primary school days, we had Social Studies (which is a blend of local history and geography, but in the mother tongue, so my interest dropped considerably).

I was thinking they could follow the US system of civics classes - teach our kids about how government works and about their rights and responsibilities as Singapore citizens.

udontknowme SG

hahaha...singapore social studies teach you about singapore 'history' and we learn it for the next 6 years...like as if singapore has such a fantastic history that spans for centuries...who gives about sang nila utama and the raffles dude.

the Bear SG

and the last few posts show that our youth really NEED to get more politically involved... Neutral

LazerLordz SG

when you have undergrads finding out in Singapore Studies lessons that whatever was spoonfed to them during their youth will cause them to fail history due to those things being biased, you get the point.

it's as simple as reading the newspaper or watching the news on TV.Ask any teen out there and chances are that many do not read the news.Awareness is the first step.

lftwgr SG

Actually, my point is that we have to let kids know about

1. governments - how they come to power, their duties, etc.,
2. democracy - the process, its significance, why is it important
3. the basic fundamental rights of citizenship - religion, speech, etc., and why is it that some of these rights are restricted more than others (yeah i know there is a potential for abuse/propaganda/brainwashing here)

And yes, I know, Social Studies was really a waste of time. Which is why I'm saying it needs a revamp to make it useful.

udontknowme SG

exactly.
and you know what, dont look at my posts if you want to know abotu SINGAPOREAN teens.
because i am not a singaporean. i DO follow the politics of my own country closely and that the recent elections in my country have indeed been a great disappointment because i so do not support the party which has won.

Gordonator SG

of cos. in fact not just youths, everyone should be concern of politics.

sadly, many singaporeans has this mentality, they mind their own business and leave the politics to the gahman. they don't care who runs the country just as long as they can go to work everyday, earn money and carry on with their lives. this is a very unhealthy trend.

LazerLordz SG

which country do you hail from?

gd4u SG

Hmm, it is actually a chicken and egg problem. We can’t vote, means the gov are not really asking for wat our needs are, or rather, not really concerned about us. Since they do not concern abt us, y should we concern them ??

exkiwi SG

too ashame to tell Embarassed