Originally published in TEACH Magazine, September/October 2015 Issue
By Martha Beach
We’ve all heard the moans and groans about youth who don’t care about their society, teenagers who can’t tell you how the political system works, and citizens who don’t bother to vote. Some of those complaints ring true. The 2008 federal election saw the lowest voter turnout in the history of our country at 58.8 percent. The 2011 federal election saw a slight improvement at 61.1 percent. But voter turnout just skims the surface of a deep community issue: civic engagement.
Civic engagement keeps the wheels of society oiled and running smoothly. Educating youth about civic duties, rights, and responsibilities is the only way to be sure they become engaged adults. But feeding them information won’t get the job done.
Martha Beach lives and works in Toronto as a freelance fact-checker, editor, and writer for a wide variety of publications. When she’s not working, you’ll find Martha on her yoga mat or hanging out with her daughter and husband.
