Politicians always assume that young people don't have a valid opinion. That they're not interested in decision-making, or politics, or the way the country is run. Well they are. And I am. And I see how much young people care every day of my life.
There's a revolution happening at the moment - a movement of young people learning the power of free speech, and the importance of getting their voices heard on the issues that matter to them the most.
Sure, this has happened before all over the world, but it's happening in the UK right now in a pretty new and different way.
On Wednesday I launched Create the Debate in an East London school called The Bridge Academy, Hackney. Me and Radio 1's Gemma Cairney led a debate with about 30 students on two of the biggest issues facing young people today: the national curriculum and the cost of public transport.
How do we know these are important? Because for the past few months, 250,000 young people across the UK have been voting on the UK Youth Parliament's Make Your Mark Ballot. They were asked to vote for the biggest issues in their world. That's the largest ever youth vote that's taken place in the UK. Are the Politicians listening yet?
Me, Gemma and Georgie Okell from T4 have made a video on each of those issues through BBC Three's Free Speech, the monthly live debate show that debates issues in a way that young people can relate to. None of that Question Time formality.
We're now calling for every secondary school in the country to watch the videos and hold a debate with their students. We've got packs for teachers and lesson plans for Key Stage 3, 4 and 5. It's a big ask, I know. But revolutions are just that. Big.
The difference with this revolution is that it's feeding in to a bigger picture, and one which young people, and Politicians, should take note of. The outcome of these school debates are feeding in to Parliament Week 2012 - a week of activities to get people to engage with Parliament, including a day long debate for young people actually in the House of Commons chamber. I can see it now, all those green benches lined with teenagers, probably talking more sense than the adults.
Not just that, but online too. Right now there's a ridiculously large debate going on between young people over these five issues, all led through the Free Speech Facebook and Twitter pages. I defy anyone to look at these pages and still say young people don't have an opinion.
Create the Debate is an initiative which will helps young people get their voices heard, get their opinions listened to, and get the bug for speaking up. Politics and debates shouldn't be reserved for people who go to posh schools, or for people who wear suits in Westminster. It should be opened up to every young person in the UK. Which Create the Debate will do.
The next episode of Free Speech is on BBC Three on Tuesday 6 November at 8pm. I've been a panellist on this show before, and it's intense, but great. Young people getting fierce with their beliefs - passion that you don't see in all the adults. You want to hear a real opinion? Watch young people spouting it.
Natasha Lipman: Don't Patronise Us - We Don't All Aspire to Be Kim Kardashian
http://davidhencke.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/the-evil-empire-that-wants-to-destroy-and-tax-the-free-internet/
The young need to appreciate that the route to success is hard-work and the truthful realisation of their skills. Not everyone is intelligent, talented, good at singing, acting or sports or beautiful and, therefore, these routes are not accessible to them. Many people make very successful livings by having a trade and this route is often ignored because it is not seen as fashionable.
Having affordable public travel is a very small issue in comparison to what they will do to earn a living, in fact, what importance is education if it does not lead to employment and a means to supporting themselves. Mollycoddling stands in the way of preparing the young for adult life.
Keep this tosh going, Jamal, and you'll get snapped up by any of the mainstream political parties.
In minds this time, rather than malls.
“Are the Politicians listening yet?”
They are otherwise engaged. Trying to get the spilt jinn back in the bottle.
“Question Time ”
Where those who individually can do nothing, debate the reality that by talking collectively nothing can be done?
“I can see it now, all those green benches lined with teenagers”
Like Hogwarts and purged of pigheadedness.
“Create the Debate”
then let the best, most cogent and thoroughly tested arguments prevail.
“for people who wear suits in Westminster.”
If clothes truly make the human, the raw material couldn’t have been much to begin with.
“want to hear a real opinion?”
Well, our world is full of them. But opinions, tested to the limit yet still standing up. They are something special.
These issues will affect them more in future years.
Bus fares and the national curriculum are the issues that affect young people TODAY.
These youngsters were asked to vote on the issues that are important to them NOW and these subjects were the result of that survey.
It is not possible for them to discuss personal debt etc. unless or until they have had personal experience of it.
Another point is that, if they are learning to debate in a rational manner now.
Some of them may well turn into the politicians of tomorrow and, when they have had more experience of world ahead of them which, contrary to popular belief, is not all filled with doom and gloom, they may well be in a position to do something about the wider issues.
As a school boy in the ‘60’ the biggest thing on our minds was, for the boys, which girl from our year we wanted to take to the school dance and for the girls, which boy they wanted to take them to the dance.
'Kids are getting older, younger these days'.
IMHO it's great that they have a forum like the radio show in which to voice their opinions and debate them. I only wish that we were more informed about the world in my day rather than just having to take an adults word for things.
Oh crikey, you "young people" need to pull the wool from over your eyes. How about debating the fact that the political and financial class have royally screwed yours and my children's futures by creating an ever growing debt spiral with no prospects and how you are going to take back your financial and politcial liberty?
It would be great to see students gettting really angry and mobilised over the bleakness lying ahead of them. You have the energy and drive, use it and don't be distracted by trivial matters like bus fares!
Regards to the young that are aware of free speech and want to take an active role in creating a better world. But like London2Hull says there are bigger issues at large in the world than Bus Fares. You don't get Life Experience from a book or a course. You have to have lived for a while before you see the "Back Story" in everything that happens.
My worry for my Grand Kids is that events currently unfolding will never let them get to my age.
Regards, Handyman.