Oakwood Collegiate Institute - Oracle Yearbook (Toronto Ontario, Canada)

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1 ' w ' ' MMmk Mr. Andrew Staff Sponsor Mr. Green Advertising Mr. Nicholson Miss Campbell Business Art Mr. Moore Photography THE LIVELY ONES Susan Salpeter Grads Kathy Gaby Grads Sheila Rogow Form News Connie Verge Anne Wood Amanda Myers Brian Konkle Jordan Goodman Exchange Girls ' Sports Special Events Photography Advertising

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EDITORIAL Shirley Zucker Editor It happened again last November. Months prior to the federal elections, statements, promises, oaths and accusations flew back and forth. For the candidates it was a battle of wits. They were fighting each other in order to win votes. Yet all candidates were united in a struggle against a common enemy — public apathy. The people just are not interested any more. They are fed up with elections and Canadian poli- tics. This disinterest was blatantly obvious when election day came, and so few voters turned up at the polls. Enthusiasm and concern for Canadian politics comes only from a group of people who have not been given the franchise — today ' s youth. These are the people who have, on the whole, been most completely educated. These are the people who flock to political rallies because of a serious desire to understand and evaluate the issues. Yet society has not recognized their capabilities by giving them the right to vote. The right is withheld on the pretense that young people be- tween the ages of 18 and 21, and I am speaking specifically about this age group, are not respon- sible enough. This is a ridiculous assumption. Most eighteen-year-olds are either still in school or out in the employment world (there are very few alternatives). The average eighteen-year-old stu- dent is approaching or has reached university level. He has studied the history of most of the democratic nations of the world. He has an under- standing of democracy — its weaknesses and its strengths. He has studied literature and is able to detect flaws in argument, thus making him less susceptible to propaganda than the average citi- zen. He is idealistic, yet he can be objective in his political taste because his thinking is not coloured by monetary motives. He is, therefore, as quali- fied or even more so than the average older citizen to make a wise political decision. Why deny such a person a privilege in which he is interested and which he is capable of handling? The working teenager is no less qualified to vote than the average citizen. He, furthermore, is directly affected by almost all legislation. In a democractic society, he should have a say in how his taxes are spent. In all other ways, he has the responsibilities of an adult citizen, but he is denied the most basic privilege of an adult. This is not democracy. Society, in extending the right to vote to those 18 years of age or older, would be taking a step towards democratic ideals, and would be acknowl- edging the fact that today ' s young people are capable and interested. Canada would then truly possess a youthful drive and spirit.

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We ' ve a grapevine that stretches clear across Canada Because a store that ' s 97 years old has to think young, we ' re a company of listeners. And the people we listen to? You. We lend an attentive ear to school reps and bright young shoppers clear across the land. Give us another 97 years... We ' ll still be THE STORE FOR YOUNG CANADA. EATON ' S