I express my concern amongst current high school students. Political participation in high school and college is extremely important. Politics is a very widespread topic amongst the nation, and millennials are not taking advantage of their citizen right to vote when they become of age due to the lack of political knowledge.
Hence this ongoing phenomenon of millennials not using their right to vote, I strongly think that every high school student in New Jersey should be required by law to be enrolled in an American Government course. I was once 18 and uneducated politically. I didn't know who to vote for during the past mid-term elections. I ended up voting with who my family believed should be in office.
Only nine states and the District of Columbia require one year of U.S. Government or civics courses. Thirty states require a half year, and eleven states have no U.S. Government requirement. New Jersey currently requires two years of U.S. history and one year of world history in high school.
Civics is required to be integrated into history courses. I believe civics is not synonymous with history. Millennials need an entire course dedicated to becoming more politically active.
During the previous 2016 election, only 2,019,655 out of 5,754,862 eligible voters cast their vote. That's only 35%!Eligible voters are not using their right as citizens because they aren't equipped with the information. Millennials believe their vote doesn't make a difference due to what they are being taught in school. All throughout our education career, we live up to the moment we turn 18 and are eligible to vote. Students are not taking advantage of this because they don't even know what political party they may side with.
If high school students are required to take an American Government course, it can prepare students with knowledge and skills to become an engaged citizen, our AP Government test scores will increase, and we will have the power to make a change in our political system.
President Trump and his administration are eager to cut education funding by $7.1 billion dollars. With changes being put into place, we can eliminate President Trump from cutting education funds. If the administration sees that more people are politically active, they are less likely to cut the funds which are producing active results.
I never realized how important it is to vote until I had to take an American Government course. I am sure many others feel the same way about this as myself.
