Politically Involved Students Know Compromise

by Jan Goehring

A recent Governing magazine article, The Nasty, Ineffective World of Politics, describes the political participation and outlook of several members of the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC). Despite the title, the article gives a positive account of what these students experienced and accomplished, even when exposed to negativity on the part of the adults. The young people worked together to get things done. As one council member stated, "we know compromise." And that is an important message.

The Louisiana LYAC has its roots in the America's Legislators Back to School Program. Several years ago, then state Senator Gerald Theunissen visited a classroom as part of the Back to School event. He asked students for bill ideas and they came up with the advisory council. The class was involved in the bill from drafting to enactment. This is a wonderful example of the power of connecting lawmakers and young people. However, the Governing article mentions that the LYACs, now in 12 states, all arose from the Back to School Program. We'd like to take credit, but not all started with a classroom visit from a legislator.

Comments

[Paul W. Taylor, Editor at Large, GOVERNING]

Jan,
Thanks for picking up the column from www.governing.com. By the way, the headline in the print magazine is "The Kids are alright," and I think we will be too if the the LYAC members profiled in the piece are indicative of what we can expect from the next generation of public leaders.