Issue Position: Teen Issues

Issue Position

PROPOSALS:

1) Recycling and environmental awareness must be practiced in every High School, Middle School, and Elementary School. Click here to read opinion piece by Uma Patla

2) Limit state-mandated PARCC testing to elementary and middle school. Teachers should teach fundamental skills instead of just "teaching to the test' as part of the high school curriculum

3) Invest in Sexual Education in our high schools to educate our youth on consent, date rape, and sexual assault

4) Combat depression, prevent drug addiction, and address student anxiety by encouraging formation of student support and awareness groups in schools to speak about and deal with these issues openly

5) Look into piloting additional learning opportunities for students in their second half of high school senior year, such as internships, apprenticeships, study abroad, information technology courses, etc.

6) Begin automatic voter registration when teenage drivers first receive a driver's license

7) Support the NJ Governor Youth Council initiative, allowing teens to have a voice in policy-making in Trenton. Click here to read opinion piece by James Wellemeyer

8) Require civics education in school curriculums to teach today's youth on how to be engaged citizens and how the government works in NJ. Click here to read opinion piece by Brian Kehoe

9) Address the "Lunch Debt/Shaming problem" by investing in free or reduced-lunch programs for students and encouraging an open dialogue. Click here to read opinion piece by Keertana Talla

It is time for the governor to consider the concerns of our youth today - by listening to them and giving them a voice. As a teacher for 35 years, I am a proud teacher and believe in empowering our youth today to become the engaged citizens of tomorrow.

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