Photo from Nicholas Garcia, Chalkbeat
Students in Jefferson County, Colorado are learning first-hand about dissent and political action. They’re also learning, inadvertently, about how the political process of voting matters, and why the news media, too, matter.
Because voters in Jefferson County tend to be older and more conservative, a conservative school board was elected last November. But students and their parents tend to be younger, more diverse, and more progressive – and unfortunately, less likely to vote. This means that those most affected by the School Board are now being faced with decisions that they don’t support, and in turn, the School Board isn’t listening to the publics they serve. Result = protests, which garner media attention, and put young people in the news.
Here’s today’s story in Chalkbeat, a news outlet dedicated to covering education issues in Colorado.
Young People & the Future of News 