In 1776, our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence for America to pursue its own government separate from British rule. After years of fighting in the Revolution, a self-governed nation, where the rights of the individual were paramount, was born.
This Fourth of July is a reminder of how precious freedom truly is. And to ensure freedom for generations, we must inspire young people to get involved in the political process.
This year, 8.3 million young adults are estimated to join the electorate, making the number of Gen Z voters (ages 18-27) in this year's election 40.8 million, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE).
Gen Z has already proven to be more politically active than other generations. In Gen Z's first midterm election, 28.4% of young adults cast a ballot, outranking the percentage of baby boomers who participated in their first midterm, which until now had been the highest participation of the generations, according to CIRCLE.
As we approach the November election, it's crucial that we remember the younger generations and the impact they can have. As parents, it's our responsibility to teach our children how they can make a difference in their local and national governments.
Here are three ways we can help students engage in our government.
First, to engage young people in civics, we must make sure that they understand our nation's history, their constitutional rights, and how the government operates. Studies over the years have shown a disconcerting trend of the general U.S. population's lack of knowledge of the government branches and understanding of the First Amendment.
Talk to your children about what they are learning in their classes regarding U.S. history and our political system. It's important that they are introduced to our political parties and what each one stands for.
Encourage them to read books about our nation's history, particularly resources in which they can learn about our Constitution, the principles our nation was founded on, and the wars we encountered to preserve those values.
For them to be passionate about our nation's principles, they must have a thorough understanding of them.
Second, encourage your children to participate at the local level. To learn more about our political system, children can engage with the government in their local municipalities.
Often, children don't understand how local governments function and how they can get involved. As a parent, you should inform your children about how voting on the local level can affect them.
Show them where to research laws that are being considered and what each party member is planning to do for your city.
One way they can engage in local government is through attending city commission meetings. Many cities will stream these meetings, making it easy for the general public to join from anywhere.
Encourage your children to watch one session online. It may encourage them to attend in person next time and be able to engage in the discussions by asking questions or addressing issues they are concerned about.
Third, share how they can volunteer with political groups to learn more about the political process and their representatives. First, have them research local representatives and see what volunteer opportunities are available to them, and then apply to the ones they find the most interesting.
Through this process, they will get to learn more about their representatives. Volunteering can also increase your children's awareness of political issues and show them how they can make their voices heard.
Volunteer opportunities can be an important place for children to fight for social issues they are passionate about. Many young people are interested in making a difference, and by volunteering, they can learn how to best represent the needs of others in their local community.
Educating the next generation shouldn't be left to the schools, but rather it should be a parent's responsibility.
If we want to protect our freedoms for years to come, we have to actively participate in our children's education and encourage them to be a part of the political process starting now. As they begin to engage in the political process at the local, state and national levels, they will be able to see how they can make a difference in the world around them.
Dr. Kent Ingle serves as the president of Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, one of the fastest growing private universities in the nation. A champion of innovative educational design, Ingle is the author of "Framework Leadership.'' Read Kent Ingle's Reports — More Here.
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