Only 33.5% of those who could vote in the Children’s Rights Referendum actually went out and did so. What do you think this says about how much adults cared about children’s rights in Ireland?
Carry out a survey of five adults you know who were old enough to vote in 2012. Ask them: 1. Do they remember the referendum?
2. If so, did they vote? 3. If so, did they vote yes or no?
Yes Yes Yes
4. In one line: why do they think the turnout was so low?
Compile your results. For questions 1–3, write down the percentages who gave each answer. For question 4, list the short responses you heard. You might choose to represent some of your results in a pie chart or bar chart.
No No No
Rather not say Rather not say
THIS TOPIC AND YOU
Do you think all decisions made in your school are in the ‘best interests’ of students? Is your voice heard when it’s time to make decisions that affect you?
Discuss in pairs an occasion, in your current school or your primary school, when you felt your voice either was or was not listened to when a decision affecting you was taken.
After you each discuss your experiences, you might choose to share them with the class.
