If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Read the community guidelines before posting ✨
Options
Elections For Schools!
BillieTheBot
Posts: 8,721 Bot
Story.
Turnout at the last General Election was 59%. Hardly impressive. So, what does this Government do to get people interested in politics once more? Does it start telling it like it is? Does it abandon the dark arts of spin? Maybe an attempt to engage the people of the country in debate? If only!
No, as always from a government that never thinks anything through, (fox-hunting anyone?) they're going to make sure that schools across the UK take part in a mock general election. Apparently, the Government boasts that about 600 schools have already signed up for the "Y(outh?) Vote Mock Elections 2005", where pupils in the schools will learn the skills of speech writers, canvassers and political candidates.
Schools Minister Stephen Twigg says: "Young people who are engaged and motivated by the political process are essential to the future health of our democracy. The mock elections initiative provides an opportunity for pupils to develop their own understanding of how the democratic process works and why it matters. By experiencing the election process first hand - from running a campaign to the declaration of the final result - we hope that young people will develop the enthusiasm to take part in the future."
Why does the word "gimmick" come to mind?
Turnout at the last General Election was 59%. Hardly impressive. So, what does this Government do to get people interested in politics once more? Does it start telling it like it is? Does it abandon the dark arts of spin? Maybe an attempt to engage the people of the country in debate? If only!
No, as always from a government that never thinks anything through, (fox-hunting anyone?) they're going to make sure that schools across the UK take part in a mock general election. Apparently, the Government boasts that about 600 schools have already signed up for the "Y(outh?) Vote Mock Elections 2005", where pupils in the schools will learn the skills of speech writers, canvassers and political candidates.
Schools Minister Stephen Twigg says: "Young people who are engaged and motivated by the political process are essential to the future health of our democracy. The mock elections initiative provides an opportunity for pupils to develop their own understanding of how the democratic process works and why it matters. By experiencing the election process first hand - from running a campaign to the declaration of the final result - we hope that young people will develop the enthusiasm to take part in the future."
Why does the word "gimmick" come to mind?
Beep boop. I'm a bot.
0
Comments
It doesn't address the present low turnout, I'll give you that. But then it shouldn't be since it's targetting future generations of voters.
It really annoyes me though when people go around moaning about the Goverment and what they are doing and then you ask them if they voted and they say no, they then have no right to moan. 1 vote could make all the difference.
Sorry for my wee rant there.
So let's see.
A practical lesson in politics, and you call it a gimmick. On that basis you have a better idea. Please share...
Something the kids will get the chance to learn about, no doubt. Lessons like this might healp to teach people how to see through the world of spin a little more...
Sad as I am, I actually did LOL at that...
If only.....
FACT: Blair and Labour will be the next government.
Indeed, the "gimmick" could easily turn young people off the process at the gullible stage......
No really?
There's a surprise.
Not fact though, just an opinion. Unless, of course, you can prove it
FACT 2: My MP after the election will be Simon Hughes, with a majority of a few thousand.....
And besides loading up a bunch of young with campaigning strategies and biased media then sending them to the polling booths will do little to assist in the democratic endeavor.