Masterman Students Aren’t Engaged in Local Politics: Why it Matters for Our Community's Future

    When surveyed about their knowledge of local politics, Masterman 9th and 10th graders revealed a harsh reality: underclassmen aren’t engaged with politics in Philadelphia. More than half of the 72 students surveyed said they’re unaware of local policies. Similarly, when asked if they knew of any accomplishments or policies of Mayor Cherelle Parker, half said “No” and a quarter of students only listed one or two, most often referencing her support for building the Sixers stadium in Chinatown. 

          Being informed about local politics is just as crucial— if not, more so—as being aware of national politics. With the building of the Sixers stadium in Chinatown passed by Mayor Cherelle Parker, more of our community will be directly impacted. Some Masterman students have been advocating for change—people can be seen wearing “No Arena in Chinatown” shirts in the hallways, and Voices articles have been published protesting the arena. However, while some students are actively advocating for change, many others remain unaware of how local policies shape our community. By neglecting local policy, you ignore the community and voluntarily become ignorant of crucial issues that shape our city. 

          Mayor Cherelle Parker has taken significant steps to address education, such as her call for a 7-year program to improve school facilities, hire staff for understaffed schools, and support parental involvement. She has also collaborated with the School District of Philadelphia to introduce a voluntary year-round program in 25 schools. Engaging in local issues can influence important decisions that affect the quality of schools, the safety of streets, and the quality of life. Your environment, neighborhood, school, and workplace are defined by local politicians, as evidenced by Mayor Cherelle Parker’s policies that influence educational opportunities and the harm the Sixers arena in Chinatown poses to millions in Philadelphia. Awareness of these issues creates a stronger community connection when you become 

aware of policies that could be detrimental or essential to those around you. 

According to “Civic Engagement Strongly Tied to Local News Habits” from the PEW Research Center, those who feel highly attached to their communities—roughly one in five U.S. adults—demonstrate stronger ties to local news versus those who don’t feel attached. A lack of political engagement can lead to complacency; inadvertently, you let policies that may be unjust persist. Advocating for issues that matter the most develops a voice, encourages civic engagement, and most importantly impacts how likely you are to be civically engaged in adulthood. Despite not following local news and thus their own advice, more than half of the 72 students surveyed still acknowledge that informing themselves of local politics now will benefit their civic engagement in adulthood. Dr. Braff, a civics teacher, shared a similar viewpoint: “...educators play a role in [students being well informed in local politics] because it is our job to send students out into the world to be able to make decisions that will help themselves and their communities. At the age of 18, students will be able to vote and impact things so figuring out who's in charge, and who's running, and what those ideas are is key to improving and bettering the community the way that students want.”       

           While some may disagree that individuals can make a difference, it’s important to recognize that even a small amount of political awareness can be vital in addressing urgent challenges or advocating for meaningful reforms. People want change but aren’t engaged in politics; according to Amelia Lester, an editor at Foreign Policy, only 42% of youth voters aged 18-29 went to the polls in 2024, the lowest youth vote since 2000. However, if you remain silent, you can’t be a force for change in your community; as Ms Taylor, a history teacher, stated, “Our country is us. Students and adults should be involved in our communities to build the kind of city, state, and nation we want to be in.” As the next generation of leaders, understanding local policies now establishes the basis for taking on roles that drive change for the future. 

         Noncommittal tasks can develop this basis. Exchange some of your hours spent on media like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest and instead read for as little as ten minutes on websites such as WHYY PBS or newspapers like The Philadelphia Inquirer. Watch the local news. Let other voices be heard. Volunteer for community service projects. Organize or join petitions or protests. Leverage social media for awareness—eventually, you can be the one to raise awareness on local issues. By taking time to understand and engage with local policies today, we empower ourselves to become informed leaders who will shape a more just and responsive Philadelphia in the future.