The most telling question/statement at the launch of the Youth Citizenship Commission‘s final report came from a delegate representing the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), he suggested something along the lines of, “Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Government’s response to this report is to do nothing? What would that tell young people about the limits of their influence and citizenship?” All Government commissions run the risk of being ignored by Government, but the questioner was right, it would be particularly pointed if the recommendations of this report were not taken up. The findings of the Commission were that (like other groups in society) there is a disillusion with politics because young people do not feel they are listened to. Arguably what is worse than not being listened to at all, is being told you’ve got the chance to have your say and have an influence and then to have that views dismissed anyway. (I see this all the time in schools with school councils where there are boundaries to what they can do, but these are never discussed or communicated with the pupils, they are just told ‘No’ when that issue arises).
So, whilst I think the Commission has done a great job and made many important recomendations (not least about the need for standards for school and class councils), ultimately whether this has any real benefit will come down to the Government’s actions: inaction will be failure.
Asher
