News

Comment on Voting Age (Reduction Bill)

Philip Parkin, General Secretary of Voice: the union for education professionals, said: "The Bill to lower the voting age raises further issues about how society views those aged 16 to 18.  

"The Government is legislating to extend compulsory education or training to 18 and to set a duty on parents to assist their children to participate (Education and Skills Bill).  However, the ages at which people can drive, get married or buy alcohol range between 16 and 18.  

"We need to decide if 16 to 18 year olds are adults or children. We seem to want these child-adult hybrids to be participating, voting citizens who must stay on at school or be found useful things to do.  We could have married, voting parents being disciplined for not attending school. Is it any wonder many young people don’t know how they should behave?"

"Lowering the voting age": ePolitix comment, 6 June 2008

ends    

Raising the school leaving age (November 2007)

philipparkin@voicetheunion.org.uk

pressoffice@voicetheunion.org.uk

06 June 2008