Classroom Election Extra Credit for High School Students

Recently, some educators throughout the United States have devised a plan to help high school boys and girls understand classes such as American History, Economics, Government and Global studies-Politics. You’re taught never to bring up politics, religion or relations... just “keep to two subjects, the weather and every body’s health,” but as a high school student, I feel it should be touched upon. 

What these teachers are wanting to do is give high school boys and girls an opportunity to experience politics firsthand, by rewarding them with classroom extra credit to go out in the world and volunteer at political organizations or help with local campaigns.

In my opinion, students should be granted this opportunity, because it will expose them at an early age to things they will need to learn and understand later in life. By providing extra classroom credit, this will motivate the students to want to volunteer, and they will have a desire to learn... not just sit in a classroom all day with a notebook and pencil, not retaining anything.

Studies show that 65 percent of people learn and retain more information with hands on activities; as to the 35 percent of people who learn just by hearing a lecture.

This extra credit politics assignment would benefit everyone involved: the students, because they would have the motivation and opportunity to be exposed to politics at an early age, and they would understand the processes of government being taught to them in the classroom, the educators because they would feel better about themselves knowing that their students are actually learning life skills, and for the students’ parents, because they know that their child(ren) are growing mentally as people in forming their own opinions.