Can kids help write laws?

The public radio podcast Civics 101 runs a national student contest every year. They aired Civics101-ThereOughttobeaLaw recently. The suggestion for this year’s contest came from Inquiring Minds - the idea that kids submit suggestions for laws that should/should not exist. Give it a listen!

Civics 101 asked the students (above) involved in Inquiring Minds - which include Lennon Watford, 10, Clara Flanders 18, Rachael Potashnik and Ed Zuniga both 16 - all NYC public school students to comment on the winners. You will hear all their comments at the end of the episode.

Civics 101 also brought on a state senator asking him to access the 5 finalists’ laws for viability.

The winner is announced at the end - a girl named Annett from New Jersey - who suggested a law about equity in school for kids from low income families.

Spoiler alert: - 10 year old Lennon - nailed it! He pointed to the winner.

It's a great episode on so many different levels not the least of which is the senator’s emphatic statement about the role and power of youth civic engagement.