Stenger identifies 5 areas which teachers can work within in order to introduce and engage students with democracy and the political process through their education. The Passport to Democracy team aims to help teachers provide the education that young people both desire and need. Some of the students surveyed- and I’ve experienced this feedback in my own teaching practice- stated that they wished there were dedicated classes exploring these areas. Despite this, the students were often highly engaged and passionate about issues in the media. Many students report feeling overwhelmed, tired and confused by the expectation to vote, unsure of where to find party information, who to ask for help, and ultimately, why they need to vote at all.Īccording to a report from the National Assessment Program for Civics and Citizenship, quoted by Stenger, less than half of 15-16 year old Australian students achieved “proficiency” in regards to topics such as Australian government, the judiciary and democratic processes. The act of exposing students to these ideas and processes before they reach voting age (when they are expected exercise a democratic responsibility they potentially know little about) is, Stenger argues, of vital importance.
Early in May, Marianne Stenger published an article on the ABC’s Education portal which emphasised the importance of including political and electoral material in the school curriculum.
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