Who's Missing?

I read an article today in the State Journal-Register, a newspaper out of Springfield, Illinois. The article was about legislation being considered that would put new rules and regulations on teenagers. Bills being considered ranged from extending nighttime driving curfews, to allowing teachers to search lockers without student consent, to suspending drivers licenses for underage drinking, even if the young person was not in or near a vehicle when the offense was committed.

The article talked about the various committee hearings and processes used to consider the proposed legislation. It identified the numerous attorneys, teachers, and judges who participated in the discussions and provided testimony. The article also admitted that, throughout the entire process of considering legislation that affects teens, there was one group that was conspicuous in its absence … teens.

Unfortunately, this is not a newsflash or unusual circumstance. Involving young people in the processes to create legislation that directly affects them is the exception, not the rule. Youth under 18 are not permitted to vote, and this lack of power over the system generally means that adults feel no obligation to include them in the system -- but they are not excluded from control by the system.

This is a circumstance that would not be tolerated if applied to any other group in our culture. Can you imagine considering legislation affecting the business community, or a minority population, or teachers, without even feeling the need to involve them in the process in any way what-so-ever? People would be, and should be, outraged. But teens? We act without their involvement, and don’t even give it a second thought. The next time someone questions why teens so often feel alienated and disconnected from politics and social issues, this might be a point worth mentioning …