I'll be on Fox News Tomorrow

[Imran Siddiqui]

Who are these 16 year olds who are just studying civics? My high school did not have a civics class until Senior year, when everyone was 17-18. And even then it was an elective which most people didn't bother to take.

[Kuciwalker]

Well, Junior year we're taking AP US History, and since up until November you're going to be covering the genesis of the country and, most importantly, the Constitution, it acts pretty well as a civics/government course.

Next year we take AP Government.

[Imran Siddiqui]

since up until November you're going to be covering the genesis of the country and, most importantly, the Constitution, it acts pretty well as a civics/government course.

But not really. Leaning about how the Constitution came into effect has little to do with how the government works now! As any one who's complained about how far the US government has gone from the Constitution should be acutely aware of .

[Sava]

I had a civics class my sophomore year in HS...

[Imran Siddiqui]

It seems it depends on the school when the civics class is.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
Fine by me. You do realize however, that half or more of the adult population would be disenfranchised.

Not a problem as far as I'm concerned. We can all do without idiots at the polling booth.

[Kontiki]

It also seems that Kuci is projecting his experiences onto those of all other 16 year olds. Isn't he going to some super-elite proto-nerd school?

Kuci - what percentage of 16 year olds across America take AP anything?

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


No, the argument doesn't, for several reasons:

1) college students don't necessarily take any government courses at all

2) not all 18 year olds go to college (all but a very few 16 year olds are in high school)

3) 16 year olds are actively studying it in a coordinated environment - their learning about the stuff during the election. Not only would it increase interest in the election, because it's relevant to what they're doing in class, but it would increase interest in the class, because it's relevant to the election in which they can actually participate.

To more directly respond to this:

1) What does college have to do with this? Eighteen is generally when you graduate high school. Given that elections are held in November, most 18 year olds will have just graduated from high school, full to the brim with all the knowledge from your AP courses.

2) What does this have to do with anything?

3) Again, it would appear that most 16 year olds are not studying it. And you don't go changing ages of consent, voting, or anything because it might increase interest in a high school class. Of all the piss poor reasons to do something, this one ranks just above "because I want it".

[Sava]

AP courses are generally just more homework and papers... it doesn't necessarily teach you anything more than regular classes.

but it makes all the nerds feel special... so I say let the baby have their bottles.

High school is a joke anyhow... it doesn't matter if you were AP everything once you get to college. Going to college is the great equalizer. Everybody starts out at the same level regardless of what they did in high school.

Having said that, you should take regular classes instead of AP, Kuciwalker. Then you can relax and enjoy yourself rather than burden yourself with extra work that won't mean didley**** the day you graduate high school.

[Imran Siddiqui]

College

And I'd bet that more people will be willing to vote in the politically charged atmosphere of a college rather than ho-dunk town where the most political stuff will be signs and stuff. In terms of politics, there is no place you are more surrounded with it than in the college environment. Unless you go and work for CNN or something .

[Sava]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
ho-dunk

[Imran Siddiqui]

That was Clinton's favorite phrase .

[JohnT]

It's "po-dunk", Imran, not "ho-dunk". "Po" is short for "poor", in case you were wondering.

[Apocalypse]

My college really isn't political at all....

[GePap]

Most American voting could not tell you there are three branches of government- so teenagers are no more ignorant of our process than our general public is.