2008 Woodie Awards
Teens begin to flex political muscle
By Samuel Gomez, Warren High School
Issue date: 6/30/08 Section: News
Originally published: 6/29/08 at 10:37 AM CSTLast update: 9/4/08 at 2:00 PM CST
According to issues addressed on McCain's Web site, parents should be empowered with school choice. He says parents should send their children to the school they believe can best educate them.
The No Child Left Behind law, signed into law in 2002 by President George W. Bush, has drawn much criticism of standardized tests, including the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, an exit-level test for English language arts, social studies, math and science.
According to Obama's plan, "The Blueprint for Change," he plans to reform the No Child Left Behind law by improving the assessments used to track student progress and improve student learning.
To teens, age is more of an issue than education, Kat Speer, a graduate of Clark High School, said.
Speer, who will be attending the University of Texas at Austin this fall, was reared around politics because her mother is a Republican precinct chairwoman.
"I think people are comparing them by appearances; we are an appearance-based culture," Speer said. "A lot of people are thinking that (McCain) looks too old and that he can't identify with their wishes."
If elected, McCain would be the oldest person ever elected president. At 72, he surpasses former President Ronald Reagan, who was elected at 69 years old.
Obama, who is 46, has been both praised by the younger generation and scrutinized by older voters for being too young and inexperienced.
The younger candidate creates interest in teens, but that doesn't mean they are as informed as they think they are, Speer said.
"Obama has charisma," she said. "He looks a certain way; he's someone very attractive to identify with. He has a personality that's comparable to a magnet."
Social networking sites have been key to reaching out to the younger generation. Last year, YouTube and CNN hosted two presidential primary debates in which viewers asked questions of the candidates through videos they submitted on YouTube.
The No Child Left Behind law, signed into law in 2002 by President George W. Bush, has drawn much criticism of standardized tests, including the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, an exit-level test for English language arts, social studies, math and science.
According to Obama's plan, "The Blueprint for Change," he plans to reform the No Child Left Behind law by improving the assessments used to track student progress and improve student learning.
To teens, age is more of an issue than education, Kat Speer, a graduate of Clark High School, said.
Speer, who will be attending the University of Texas at Austin this fall, was reared around politics because her mother is a Republican precinct chairwoman.
"I think people are comparing them by appearances; we are an appearance-based culture," Speer said. "A lot of people are thinking that (McCain) looks too old and that he can't identify with their wishes."
If elected, McCain would be the oldest person ever elected president. At 72, he surpasses former President Ronald Reagan, who was elected at 69 years old.
Obama, who is 46, has been both praised by the younger generation and scrutinized by older voters for being too young and inexperienced.
The younger candidate creates interest in teens, but that doesn't mean they are as informed as they think they are, Speer said.
"Obama has charisma," she said. "He looks a certain way; he's someone very attractive to identify with. He has a personality that's comparable to a magnet."
Social networking sites have been key to reaching out to the younger generation. Last year, YouTube and CNN hosted two presidential primary debates in which viewers asked questions of the candidates through videos they submitted on YouTube.
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