Students helping cities, cities helping students

Having student positions on local government boards gives communities a fresh perspective on issues. It provides the city with a new opinion to consult on decision-making; it provides the student with a valuable education in government operations. These are some of the most compelling arguments for student representation.

More opinions, better decisions

The youth perspective can give city boards a new and unique point of view. This unique point of view is an insight into tomorrow, a future that will be run by current-day high schoolers. When boards discuss subjects, they’ll have a student representative contributing questions and ideas.

Everyone must be included and heard for a functioning and successful board. Youth inclusion broadens the spectrum of perspectives within the community’s public discourse. With a student member, cities can be assured their decisions appeal to this previously unrepresented demographic.

Investment in the future

Through student board engagement, initiatives can be geared and designed for all age groups. Students will create a stronger connection to their community when they see that they haven’t been forgotten.

The youth of our communities will have reason to come back and start families in the town they helped develop. With students on local government boards, a relationship will be built between the school, students, and the city.

Local government appreciation

Local government is an oftentimes overlooked form of bureaucracy despite its influence on people’s everyday lives. Elections without presidential positions at stake have meager turnout rates. Students serving on local government boards can discover through their own experiences the importance of municipal decision-making. Many of these students won’t likely forget about these merits when they’re old enough to vote.

The people you see on national television don’t impact your everyday life nearly as much as the people sitting on your city council. Students can be involved in that process now and will learn to be involved in it forever.

Learning democracy

There are few better ways to learn the very voting ideology The United States was founded upon than to serve on a local government board – especially for high schoolers. Learning out of a textbook and in a classroom can only go so far. Students can get hands-on interaction with debate and resolution.

Students can get early experience with public speaking and leadership skills needed to be successful leaders to their peers and community. These qualities can be translatable to any field the student goes into throughout their career.

Listening to the students

One of the best arguments for student involvement is listening to the students that are involved themselves. The video below is an interview with the East Jordan DDA Student Member, Mailey Hamilton.