This post was originally published on Defender Network
By Aswad Walker
In the U.S., a large part of the population is consistently impacted by political decisions, yet they have no vote and thus no voice.
Of the 334.9 million people in the U.S. in 2023, approximately 72.8 million of them were children aged 0-17. That same year, in Texas, there were about 7.5 million children of the same age range.
Yet, these millions of citizens ineligible to cast ballots still feel the weight of political decisions and resource allocations that impact healthcare, education, public safety, the environment, social justice and more.
That said, when should children be exposed to politics and its inner workings?
As Early as Possible
Many believe that the answer is as early as possible.
“My daughters grew up going to SHAPE Community Center, so they were exposed to current events, and therefore politics, pretty early,” said Tracie Jae, self-described as the “lead rebel” of the entity The Quiet Rebel. “I remember the first major topic of discussion was the pending execution of Gary Graham.”
Award-winning educator PN Kells agrees.
“I have been talking to [my two sons, Gabe and Liam] about politics since birth,” said Kells. “They marched for the first time when they were 3 and 1.5 years old, and they have done so countless times since then.”
Kells and her sons relocated to Spain a few years ago, but before making that move, she and her sons “campaigned relentlessly” against Ted Cruz and Greg Abbott.
“They also marched for three days with Rev. William Barber and Beto O’Rourke from Georgetown to the Capitol in 2021,” Kells added. “They had a moment with Jesse Jackson on our last day marching. They were the only kids. They’ve been grassroots campaigning for most of their lives, and I expect them to continue it.”
Since moving to Spain, Kells describes her family’s activism as focused on “the US-Israeli genocide in Palestine.”
“Gabe and Liam are in the streets with me. And knowing the full truth of the genocide has changed them a bit,” she shared. “But, if children their ages are dying because of it, mine can look it in the face and don’t deserve to be protected from it.”
School Exposures
Tracy Bean, a math teacher and National Junior Honor Society advisor at Galena Park’s Cobb 6th Grade Campus (6722 Uvalde Rd, Houston, TX 77049), has been part of her school’s 25-year tradition of taking honor society and student council members to the State Capitol in Austin.
In 2000, then State Rep. Fred Voss began sponsoring Cobb students’ Austin trips. After Voss left political office, State Rep. Harold Dutton took over the sponsorship. Led by Bean’s mother, Billie Bean Briggs, Bean has been present for all 25 trips and took over as coordinator after her mother retired.
“From our school, it’s mostly what people call at-risk students,” said Bean. “A lot of them would not get this opportunity to see how laws are actually made, how they vote on them, and things like that. So, I really think that these trips to the State Capitol make political work and whatever their dreams are more reachable now that they saw the State Legislators up close and in person.”
Bean believes these exposures help expand students’ possibilities.
“Mr. Dutton talked to the students about how he grew up in Fifth Ward, and some of these students don’t even think they’re going to get out of Houston,” said Bean. “But look at them now. They’ve been to the Capitol in Austin, seeing representatives. I think that helps them to set even higher goals that are realistically attainable to them.”
Cobb students Kenneth Bryant and Catherine Segura enjoyed this year’s trip, especially since Texas members and relatives of the U.S. Military’s famed Six Triple Eight all-Black women’s division, spotlighted in the Tyler Perry movie of the same name, were being honored at the State Capitol on the day of the Cobb visit.
“My favorite part of the day was meeting the women of the Six Triple Eight, to see them and talk to them because I’m really big about African American history and culture and I really like learning about that stuff,” said Bryant, who wants to become a Disney Imagineer when he grows up.
“What I liked most about our trip was when we got recognized by State Rep. Dutton,” said Segura, a future doctor whose favorite subject is social studies. “And this was really important, because being a part of the National Junior Honor Society shows how smart we are, and that we’re talented people.”
Values First
Joy Goodgine, a professional educator, attended the Cobb State Capitol trip when she was a sixth grader. Though she thought the trip was fun, Goodgine believes there’s a better approach to successfully exposing youth to politics.
“Looking back, I don’t think a trip like that necessarily plants seeds for political involvement. What really shapes future political engagement is helping kids develop strong morals, empathy, and a sense of justice,” said Goodgine. “When young people are taught to care about others and to stand up for what they believe in, political interest comes naturally with maturity.
Instead of exposing students to politics too early, I think a more effective approach is to help them build those internal values first. Then, as they get closer to voting age—maybe starting around 16—we should encourage them to evaluate their beliefs and understand how those beliefs translate into civic action. That’s when political education becomes most meaningful.”
