School children denied access to public seats at city assembly

We stuck to the basic rules as there was no precedent to follow in such a case," Toshibumi Ozaki, head of the secretariat, said. Apparently sensing criticism over the city's handling of the case, Ozaki indicated a need to review relevant regulations.

I'll bet this city assembly doesnt get much work done either if they can't figure out how deal with such a minor thing here.

The kids were with their parents, what's the problem? Oh right, absence of any rules, better to not allow anything to cover one's butt in case something happens. These are ES kids? Cripes, what arseholes!

Despite being full citizens, children face tremendous discrimination in our societies. They are completely disenfranchised.

Considering that I've met some 6 year olds that are more articulate and logical than many uneducated adults, I honestly don't see why all children shouldn't be given the right to vote regardless of age. Even if it turned out to be an additional vote for the parents in most cases, what would be wrong with that? At least the parent could advocate for the best political interests of the child.

I think this is especially pressing in Japan where the elderly will soon hold the whip hand over everyone else, if that isn't the case already. Just look at the fierce opposition to opening new daycares and primary schools due to noise from the laughter of children.

These children will be able to vote in eight years or so. Do their representatives really want to treat them like this?

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children." - Nelson Mandela

A sound practice as children need to be protected. What good can it do exposing impressionable, innocent young children to incompetent, corrupt, pomade-slathered elderly perverts like these?

These children will be able to vote in eight years or so. Do their representatives really want to treat them like this?

Well, given how unresponsive reps are to their present constituencies, it's hard to imagine they're too worried about the kids.

incompetent, corrupt, pomade-slathered elderly perverts

Reminds me of my favorite line in Annie Hall: "He's a politician. That's a notch below child molester"

The kids at least had the opportunity to see how useless and incompetent government is.

"We stuck to the basic rules as there was no precedent to follow in such a case,"

Then goes on to make what should have been a no brainer to anyone with a bit of heart and sense the wrong decision. Pretty much sums up the state of the country and how it is being led by a bunch of out of touch self serving fools. Top work fellas. You didn't miss much kids, but remember being denied for future reference. Now you know the answer when you want to try something new. Good lesson.

I often hear in the news here about older people discriminating against children but not one report about the opposite. I often see and hear about today's grandfathers actually taking care of their grandchildren, cooking food for them and even changing baby diapers. A few crabby seniors doesn't represent an entire generation.

Disgusting ... how can you teach anything to anyone with rules like these?

A few crabby seniors doesn't represent an entire generation.

Well, no, this is precisely what they do do - they represent these children. The decisions they make affect these children right now and in the future. These children's taxes will support them. They should not disregard them.

I often hear in the news here about older people discriminating against children but not one report about the opposite.

Old people are regularly discriminated against on these very threads. It's only a handful of posters but still, it's unpleasant.

Denying these kids access to see how local govt works is a very poor move, indeed. True, it's probably paint dryingly boring but all the same - it's depriving them of part of their education. They've no doubt learnt a valuable lesson about politicians and officials though...

M3M3M3:

"Despite being full citizens, children face tremendous discrimination in our societies. They are completely disenfranchised."

I agree they should be let in, but children are not full citizens. They cannot vote or do other activities afforded adults. I think the youngest full citizens are in some British territories where the voting age is 16. As such, they are disenfranchised in many democracies (so called?).