Ishwor Khanal 13/12/2013
Why do people believe that politics is a dirty game? This is because it is a common belief that politicians are poor role models in society. Many political leaders seem to be of poor character; nevertheless, they are influencing people especially young students. School students are frequently targeted and manipulated by politicians in developing nations such as Nepal, Myanmar, India, and Sudan; they are mobilized especially in strikes, political movements, and mass political actions. However, the question is that whether it is fair to recruit students for political activities. Some students and guardians may point out that students should be involved in political movements in order to develop leadership skills for the future; on the other hand, many students, teacher and parents agree that involvement of students in political activities affects their studies, attitudes, and behavior negatively.
Firstly, an obvious impact is on study. When students decide to be members of a particular political student association, they are often involved in different political activities such as street processions, rallies, and mass meetings. As a result, they not only miss their regular classes but also have insufficient time to do their homework and study. Hemraj Gyawaly, a national newspaper editor, in “Peace and School” says that students who spend more time on political activities, cannot score good grades in their exams (quoted in Republica 2012, par. 6). In addition, if student associations decide to close down schools, it may not only affect their own study but also interrupt to their friends from to go to school. Shivani Mishraw, in “Voice against bandh [Strike]”, questions concerned persons of strikes, “how will the students excel in exams when they keep missing classes in the name of bandhs [strikes]?” (quoted in The Himalayan Times 2013, par.4). Mishraw adds that students are losing their important learning time for political transitions (par. 5). In short, those students who participate in political activities can be weak in their study.
Another effect can be seen in changes in students’ attitudes, which become destructive rather than constructive. In Nepal, for example, when students are in a demonstration, they are often instructed by their leaders to block roads, government offices, and shopping centers. Demonstrators often throw pieces of stone and bricks at policemen and break street bars to show their anger. Moreover, during the demonstrations if any official vehicles are found on the road, these vehicles might be damaged by demonstrators. In fact, when students are employed in such political activities or other similar political movements, they develop vicious attitudes. Subsequently, when there is a minor dispute between students and school management, windows and doors might be destroyed by anger students. According to Joseph Dibona, “one of the more serious issues of India is the discipline of students’ actions and leadership” (“Indiscipline and student leadership…”. Students and Politics 1997, 372). In brief, if students participate in demonstrations, they can develop unpleasant attitudes.
Finally, many political leaders seem to be poor role models. Kenneth Rapoza shows a survey figure that out of fifty six countries, fifty one countries have political corruption in huge amount. According to this report, many political leaders seem corrupt (cited in “Transparency international spell out…”. par. 12). When students are involved in political activities, they tend to follow the thoughts and directions of their leaders. They pursue not only leaders’ lessons, but also their behavior and attitudes. Ken Balak, in the article “Politicians often are very bad role models”, inserts an example of Bill Clinton. Balak says that no matter what people think about Clinton, and some think he was a great president, the one thing the vast majority of us agree upon is that he has terrible in attitude (quoted in Times-Republican, 2011). To conclude, due to humble character of many politicians, politically associated students can learn vicious behaviour from their leaders.
Those who say students should be involved in political activities, may state that participation in political movements develops the leadership skills of pupils. Students are the leader of the nation for the future. Therefore, if they are involved in politics, they can develop different skills such as how to work in a team, how to motivate members, and how to lead the team. This idea may seem convincing. However, sports such as football and cricket and other extracurricular activities in the school can also develop the leadership abilities of students. In addition, there are student clubs in schools where students can learn and develop leadership skills. In short, both students and the society must realize that while they are studying in school, they must focus on their studies, discipline, and behavior.
To sum up, there are many reasons why students should not participate in politics at least when they are at school. If students are involved in political student associations, they may score poor grades in their exams. Similarly, students may develop negative attitudes and learn vicious behavior from their leaders. On the other hand, some students and politicians state that if students do not involve in political parties who will lead the nation in the future. Studies show that if students become active members of a particular political party, they may score poor marks in their exams, show undisciplined behavior, and learn bad attitudes from their leaders. Hence, despite their political interests, school students should pay attention to their own study and extracurricular activities in order to benefit both the students and society as a whole.
Total words: 903
Reference List
Balack, Ken. 2011. “Politicians often are very bad role models”. Times-Republican . <http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/540498.html>
Dibona, Joseph. 1997.“Indiscipline and student leadership…”. Students and Politics. London: Basic books, INC., Publishers.
Gyawaly, Hemraj.2012. “Strikes and its consequences.” Republica.
<http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_category&news_category_id=19>
Mishraw, Shivani. 2013. “Voice against bandh”. The Himalayan Times. <http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_category&news_category_id=19>
Rapoza, Kenneth. 2013.“Transparency international spell out…”. Forbs. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2013/07/09/transparency-international-spells-it-out-politicians-are-the-most-corrupt/>
Shyakya, B.N., Rajan , and Dinesh Thapa. n.d. Democracy in Nepal. Nepal: Ashmita Publication.
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