Chester County Libertarians sponsoring essay contest

A countywide student essay contest has been announced by the Chester County Libertarian Party.

Titled “The Future of Freedom,” this annual contest is open to all students living in Chester County, who are at least 13 years old and in grades 7-12. The contest is open to students of public, private, charter, or home schools.

This year’s essay theme is Unlawful Laws. “We have all heard people say, ‘There ought to be a law!’ but we in the LPCC think there are already too many laws,” said LPCC Vice Chairwoman Jaquelyn Crane. “Local, state, and national governments are quick to create new legislation, but rarely do they repeal a law, even when these laws can’t be supported by, or even flat out defy, the state or national constitution.”

The contest asks students to submit short essays of 500 words or less. A review committee will judge the essays based on originality, adherence to topic, strength of supporting information, and overall quality of writing. The top essay will be awarded $250, with prizes of $150 and $100 to second and third place, respectively.

“We hope that our inaugural theme, ‘Unlawful Laws,’ encourages discussions about the nature of our legal system and the purpose of our laws, as well as the unintended consequences of poorly designed legislation.” Crane said. “The ‘Future of Freedom’ project is intended to be thought provoking, and to encourage students to continue to engage with political discourse. This year’s theme highlights the statements and actions of politicians that often demonstrate the need for more Civics instruction in our schools. We hope that this contest helps us move in this direction.”

The contest is open to all Chester County students who meet the entry criteria. Contest rules and eligibility are available at https://lpchesco.com/contests/. Deadline for essay submission is May 1, 2021.