<p>Assignment: Are children's political opinions an echo of those espoused by their parents?</p>
<p>During the time of the year when an election is approaching, most people are seen watching the televised debates of the two presidential candidates. These people, which include parents of children, most likely either ask their child or children to come watch the debate with them or will talk about which candidate they like better in front of their children. Children's political opinions are an echo of their parents political opinions as they are otherwise too young to formulate a substantial political opinion of their own.</p>
<p>Around election time most people can be seen discussing which political candidate would be a better fit to serve the nation. Whether it be two parents discussing which candidate is better or two neighbors discussing which candidate is better, it is almost guaranteed that a child will be exposed to the similar or contrasting opinions of those talking about the future president. I remember when I was a child my parents would make me watch the presidential debates with them to see what issues were at hand that the future president would have to deal with. With an insufficient knowledge of the differences between Democrats and Republicans, how was I supposed to know who would be a better fit for president? I would ask my parents who they liked better and who they wanted for president, and their answer would later become my answer, too. Since we grow up respecting and mostly agreeing with what our parents have to say when war are unable yo make decisions about certain issues on our own, it's only natural that we would emulate our parent's political opinions as well.</p>
<p>Children in school are not normally exposed to learning about the presidential candidates in debt at the times of an upcoming election. They are not taught about each of the candidate's platforms and they are not taught about the intemperate situations occurring in the world at the present time. Therefore, there is truly no instance in a child's life where one is taught enough about the candidates, political parties, and the platforms of each candidate to make a reasonable decision on their own of who should become the next president. It's really no coincidence that the "Scholastic Edition" had claimed to predict nearly every presidential election correctly by polling children since children's votes are essentially the same as their parent's vote.</p>
<p>Children's political opinions are certainly influenced by the opinions espoused by their parents. Children trust what their parents have to say, and if parents say that one candidate is better for the country, children will most likely be in accordance with them. Also, the fact that there is no other source where children gain an abundant knowledge of the candidates and their platforms gives support to the notion that children's political opinions are reflective of their parent's political opinions. There is really no other explanation for the reason why children who were polled correctly predicted all but 2 of the presidential elections; their vote was representative of the vote of their parents, as the same results were shown on election day.</p>