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USA Today
26-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Your kids are inheriting this democracy. Are you teaching them how it works?
Your kids are inheriting this democracy. Are you teaching them how it works? | Your Turn Kids live in the world, and that world is governed by systems that transform the choices of people into policies. Pretending otherwise doesn't protect them; it leaves them unprepared. Show Caption Hide Caption NSB students learn about voting and campaigning with mock election Read-Pattillo Elementary students wonder what it's like to be president, what they'd change and who would make a good leader. The other day, while we were unpacking groceries, my 12-year-old asked, 'Wait… can a president just stay president if they don't want to leave?' She'd overheard something about how President Trump wanted to stay on for a third term and wasn't sure how it all worked. I paused and tried to give her a clear answer. No, based on our constitutional limits for the length of the presidency and the 22nd Amendment limiting people to two full elected terms, President Trump could not lawfully stay on for three terms. Now, as a political science professor, that answer was more at-the-ready for me than it might be for most parents. But for most kids, questions about politics are perfectly reasonable as they try to figure out their world. These questions don't always have a perfect or totally known answer, but they're moments we shouldn't waste. We need to teach our kids more than just to dread politics, we need to teach them how to do and understand politics. Like every other parent, I'm tired. I'm busy. I don't always feel equipped to deliver a mini civics lesson on demand. But I also know this: if I don't talk to my child about politics, someone else – or something else will. Whether it's classmates, YouTube or any of the billions of things vying for their attention, kids are absorbing political information all the time. Our job is to help them make sense of it. Our politics are already impacting our kids - a lot We often treat politics like something to shield our children from. We say they're too young or it's too contentious. But politics isn't something that starts at 18. It's already shaping their lives: in the air they breathe, the schools they attend and the list goes on. Kids live in the world, and that world is governed by systems that transform the choices of people into policies. Pretending otherwise doesn't protect them; it leaves them unprepared. That doesn't mean parents need to launch into lecture mode every time a news story breaks. But it does mean we should make politics safe to talk about at the kitchen table, just like sports, shows or weekend plans. Your Turn: As a teacher I see how cruel political rhetoric makes our kids less kind Here are a few things to keep in mind: 1. Don't dodge the hard stuff A few years ago, right after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, my daughter asked, 'What is an abortion?' That's not a question most parents hope to answer on the fly. But she was asking because she wanted to understand – and because she trusted me. I gave her the basics: what abortion is, why people have them and how different states now have different laws. That opened the door to a broader conversation about federalism and how state-level politics matter. It wasn't a perfect conversation. But it didn't have to be. It just had to be honest, age-appropriate and open. Kids don't expect us to be experts. If we avoid their questions, they'll learn that politics is taboo – and that curiosity isn't welcome. Your Turn: I voted for Trump, but I can't bring myself to support anything he's done 2. Model how to talk about politics, especially when it's hard Kids mirror how we react to the world. If they hear us constantly ranting about how corrupt politicians are or how broken the system is, they'll internalize that cynicism. If, instead, they see us wrestle with tough issues, admit what we don't know and speak with respect about people we disagree with, they'll learn that political engagement doesn't have to mean yelling or silent despair. When starting a discussion, I suggest this as your first question: 'What have you heard about that?' No one has to defend a position; they're simply laying out what they know. From there, you can explore together. One of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is the ability to disagree without shutting down or shouting. It's something many adults could practice, too. 3. Show them that politics is people, not just problems For many kids, the government feels distant and impersonal. They hear about Congress or the president, but they don't know who represents them or how to engage. Change that. Look up your local representatives together. Attend a community board meeting. Write a letter to an elected official about something your child cares about – parks, school lunches or animal shelters, and go see the spaces of government together. These small acts help kids see that government isn't just something that happens to them – it's something they can influence. They begin to understand that democracy isn't a spectator sport. And importantly, they don't have to wait until they're 18 to start participating. Parents often ask me, 'When is the right age to start talking to kids about politics?' My response: You already are. Every time you comment on the news, vote, donate, vent or stay silent, you're sending a message. Your child is watching, listening and learning. In my book "How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It's Up to You to Do It)," I remind readers that our kids will inherit this democracy, however healthy or fractured it may be. We can't wait for someone else to teach them how it works. We have to step in and show them – even if that means learning more ourselves along the way. Talking politics with kids doesn't have to be formal. It can happen while walking the dog or riding to school. The key is to stay open, curious and remember that you don't need all the answers. You just need to show them how to care, how to learn more, and how to engage with the country they're growing up in. So the next time your kid asks about primary elections (hello, NYC), protests, or presidents – don't deflect. These little conversations are what raise citizens. And that's exactly what our country needs right now. Lindsey Cormack, author of How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It's Up to You to Do It). This piece was submitted as part of USA TODAY's Forum, a new space for conversation. See what we're talking about at and share your perspective at forum@
Express Tribune
20-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Schools to get Rs342m for operations
The Department of Education has released funds amounting to Rs3.52 billion under the Non-Salary Budget (NSB) for the final quarter (April-June) of the current fiscal year 2024-25. These funds are intended to cover daily operational expenses in public schools across all districts of the province, including the Rawalpindi Division, specifically for utility bill payments and the salaries of daily wage staff. The funds will be deposited into each school's account by Monday, April 21. The funds have already been transferred to the respective district education authorities' accounts. The allocations for districts within the Rawalpindi Division are Rawalpindi Rs132.977 million, Chakwal Rs79.391m, Attock Rs76.693m, and Jhelum Rs52.901m. Expenses for schools in Murree will be covered by the Rawalpindi District, while those for schools in Talagang will be managed by the Chakwal District. Additional allocations for major districts include Lahore with Rs129.060m, Faisalabad with Rs184.967m, Gujranwala with Rs117.826m, and Multan with Rs108.097m. The Headmasters Association has welcomed the release of these funds, stating that it will enable the payment of long-overdue utility bills and salaries of daily wage staff, such as sanitation workers and watchmen.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
NSB resident recognized for effort to preserve home's historic character
NEW SMYRNA BEACH — One of the oldest towns in Florida, New Smyrna Beach is home to several historic properties, and whose proud owners are happy to do what they can to preserve their homes' notable charm. To celebrate such residents and their properties, the city presents the annual Donnadine Miller Historic Preservation award, which this year went to Marie Bushey and her 1955 periwinkle bungalow on 24th Avenue. "It's so important to me that the city recognize that these homes are a part of our history," Bushey said in an interview. "They should be deemed historic, hoping that others will be inspired to preserve these periwinkle-style homes, or any older home in New Smyrna Beach." The award, created in 2002, is named after Donnadine Miller, a longtime resident "who was an active volunteer and member of the community," according to the city. She served as chair of the Historic New Smyrna Beach Preservation Commission, "worked as an amateur archaeologist and participated in numerous other historic preservation events and activities." The award "promotes the awareness and appreciation of buildings and sites in New Smyrna Beach that contribute to the city's heritage and character," according to the city. Bushey said receiving the award was "a huge honor." "Specifically because of what Donnadine has done for preserving New Smyrna Beach," she said. Bushey has lived at the home since 2004. The approximately 800-square-foot structure has an overall light yellow exterior with green details and is surrounded by five live oak trees, some of which Bushey planted herself. "I really like the simpleness of these homes," Bushey said in an interview. "They are very sturdy and withstood many hurricanes. I like their quaint, simple style." Bushey and her husband recently updated the part of the house's electric and plumbing infrastructure. But even as she reworked her bathroom, she used 1950-style tiles to fill the space. "So I basically wanted to put it back the way it was before," she said. Although Bushey was not entirely familiar with the magnitude of the community's involvement in historic preservation when she moved to New Smyrna Beach more than 20 years ago, she gradually grew more aware of the neighborhood's shared sentiment. She said living among several neighbors who also own historic homes gives her an added sense of community. "Many of these people have lived in these homes for many, many years," she said. "It creates that sense of community, versus the larger homes, where they might even be a second home for someone, and they might not get to meet their neighbors and experience the community." This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NSB awards resident for effort to keep historic character of her home
