Mumblings of a political mind

Posting by Jack Tracey, Year 13 Politics student

Why take Politics?

For me, taking politics was an easy choice. From transport to the Treasury, it doesn’t take much to get my political juices flowing. But even if you don’t consider yourself ‘politically motivated’, politics could still be the subject for you! Politics isn’t confined to a nice building in the middle of London and its membership isn’t limited to old men in older suits. Instead, politics is found in the everyday and the ordinary – what you hear in the pub; what you read in the newspaper; what you watch on the TV. Politics surrounds us and affects all our lives!

What do you cover in Politics?

In politics you will cover parties, constitutions, philosophies, elections and compare the British and American systems. But, such is the nature of politics, that no two years, terms or even lessons are ever the same! Politics is dynamic and evolutionary and is certainly not boring or dull!

What can you expect to gain out of Politics?

I don’t think of politics as just a subject, rather a series of opportunities: to candidly express your own interests and beliefs; to truly interact and debate with other students; to reflect upon society and your place in it – opportunities that are rarely apparent in other more rigid classes! In politics, students are encouraged to think critically and independently. But this does not mean we are left to our own devices. It is true that a subject is only as good as its teacher. We are, of course, fortunate at Solihull Sixth Form to have so many wonderful teachers, but this is especially true of the politics department – help is never far away! I can say with all sincerity that during my time at Solihull my tutors have had a profound and lasting impact upon me.

Where can politics take you?

Politics can open so many doors. The communication and critical thinking skills necessary to study politics are highly valued by both employers and universities. Through studying politics, students at Solihull who are going into higher education have chosen a diverse range of courses: from history and economics to law and indeed politics. Famous people who studied politics include Jerry Springer (talk show host), Barrack Obama (44^th President US), Steve Case (founder AOL) and David Cameron (current British PM) – the possibilities are literally endless!

Conclusion

Politics is a broad and diverse church – its scope and membership are universal. Politics is the vehicle that drives society forward, the very basis of our culture and its conventions. Some may belittle politics, but those of us who are engaged in it know it is the arena where people stand tallest – and if on occasions it is a place of low skulduggery, it is more often the place for the pursuit of noble causes.