NYRA’s Orange County chapter recently attended a meeting of the California Democratic Party’s resolutions committee. NYRA-OC members introduced two resolutions at the meeting – one recognizing the human rights of all people regardless of age, and another calling for an end to compulsory school attendance laws. The committee rejected the resolution regarding compulsory attendance, and…
Before November 2006, only rising high school seniors and rising college freshmen could run for a state officer position with North Carolina HOSA. In October, NYRA Vice President Adam King provided compelling reasons for why rising juniors should be allowed to run for office. (The election is in March, and the term doesn’t start until…
I am disappointed to say that Richard Greene, the subject of one of my blog entries a few days ago, was appointed chair of the Buncombe County Board of Education last Thursday. In June, he said he would do research over the summer about the idea, and he even told me, “I do not understand…
A few weeks ago, I posted a thread on the NYRA forums about a curfew in a village near me for the nights of October 30 and 31. However, unlike most curfews, this one takes effect at 7 PM and affects everyone under 19. In light of the blatant disregard for the rights of young…
On Oct. 16, NYRA’s Executive Director Alex Koroknay-Palicz, along with NYRA member and Afghanistan veteran Robert Bertoniere, attended the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators in New Orleans. Koroknay-Palicz spoke about the need for a lower drinking age, and his argument convinced many people. He argued that raising the drinking age has not reduced drunk…
The British Broadcasting Corporation’s World Service is producing a series on growing up in different parts of the world that will air in December. When it was time to visit America, BBC stopped in Washington, D.C., and spoke at length with NYRA’’s Executive Director, Alex Koroknay-Palicz. The following afternoon, several young people associated with NYRA…
Many of you will recall the experiences I have had with Richard Greene, the Reynolds Representative on the Buncombe County Board of Education, back in June and August when I was working to add a student adviser onto the school board. In June, he said he would do research over the summer about the idea,…
On Oct. 23, 2006, the last day for Californians to register to vote on Nov. 7, 15-year-old Natasha Hull-Richter, of Orange County, attempted to file her voter registration form at the county Registrar of Voters. The registration form accurately showed that she was 15 and she informed both the clerk and supervisor. The clerk and…
The US House of Representatives recently passed the so-called Student Teacher Safety Act of 2006 (HR 5295). The Student Teacher Safety Act requires all schools receiving federal funding to adopt authoritarian policies. It would essentially require most school districts to allow teachers and other school officials to search any student at any time for any…
Calling it the biggest thing he has ever done in his entire life, Jesse L. Hunter voted in the Minnesota primaries on Sept. 12. However, Hunter is unlike other voters casting their ballots this year. He is only 17 years old. “They [polling officials] examined my driver’s license and asked for my social security number,”…
