Students address the issues

Rep. Chris Rabb
Posted 11/25/21

Rep. Chris Rabb received three, very well written and researched letters from high schoolers in his district. Their teacher gave them an assignment to contact one of their elected representatives about one or more issues they cared about.

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Students address the issues

Posted

Recently, I received three, very well written and researched letters from high schoolers in my district. Their teacher gave them an assignment to contact one of their elected representatives about one or more issues they cared about.

They shared their thoughts and concerns about a range of issues relating to bills I’ve either introduced or supported, ranging from my 100% renewable energy legislation to my bill to funnel 100% of state education dollars through the bipartisan fair funding formula.

They also expressed support for my bills to expand voting access and remove Native mascots from public schools that have not sought to engage indigenous groups for input on their curricula. Reference was also made to my satirical proposal to mandate vasectomies for certain “inseminators”. So, these students are definitely paying attention to many of my legislative efforts and expressing why they support them.

Having been invited by their amazing teacher to speak to her students in-person (prior to the pandemic), it became clear to me the power of civic literacy among high schoolers. Their thirst for knowledge and desire for action was extraordinary, and that fervor has inspired me to continue engaging youth of all ages by connecting the dots between their priorities for society and how state government positively and negatively influenced that shared vision.

Whether it’s holding their elected officials accountable through assignments like this, registering to vote, helping others to do so, lobbying as private citizens or engaging in nonviolent direct action, any strategy seeking to increase civic engagement must include developing civic participation and leadership among our youth.

Rep. Chris Rabb
200th Legislative District (Philadelphia County)
Pennsylvania General Assembly