Sam Crosby

     Parents play major roles in their children’s lives. They tell us not to wear those Daisy Dukes because they make you look slutty or not to get a mohawk because you’ll look like a punk-a** kid. Recently though, parents have been influencing a major topic in the United States: political views. Whether it be slipping in a comment about how Joe Biden was rude during the Vice Presidential debate or making jokes about Mitt Romney’s hair that has the perfect touch of gray, parents change the way children look at politics.

     Prince Eze (11) said, “My father makes me watch the political debates so I can be informed, but he also lets me decide what view I like the most.”

     Even students without political views are influenced by parents.

     “What kids dish out is what their parents tell them. It’s not bad but we just aren’t mature enough to have our personal views because we don’t know enough yet,” Maura Monti (12) said. “I have different views than my parents but that still doesn’t mean they
don’t influence my thoughts.”

     As the election approaches, some teachers get into political discussions in class. Too often it seems that teachers aren’t debating students, they are debating the parenting of the students’ parents. While some students at Hereford keep up with current politics, it is a small number. Most students should keep their thoughts private and discuss issues with your parents. Until students can vote, their political thoughts should incubate. Voters should have clear ideas about current situations, so when parents try to elude our political views, students should make sure to understand both sides of the story.