Presidential elections help with high school civics classes

Triangle area high school teachers are finding that the presidential election is a handy teaching tool.

While the historic nature of the 2008 election gives teachers a hands-on example for teaching civics and history" schools are also mobilizing their voting-age students.

""We have almost daily class discussions on issues facing America today and why it is so important for people to vote in the upcoming election"" said Kay Lawson-Demery, chairwoman of the department of social studies at Chapel Hill High School.

Lawson-Demery said teachers at the school are encouraging students to listen to debates and take notes to contribute assessments of candidates' performances in class.

Both East Chapel Hill High School and Needham B. Broughton High School in Raleigh held voter registration drives last spring to make sure eligible seniors were able to vote in the May 6 state primary.

William G. Enloe High School, also in Raleigh, has arranged for the Wake County Board of Elections to distribute voter registration forms to the school, which the school will return to the board.

Teachers said the student reaction to the upcoming election is like nothing they've seen before in their classes.

The students seem to have taken more interest in this election than any I can remember" going back to 1984 in my teaching career" said Robert Brogden, a social studies teacher at East Chapel Hill.

(Barack) Obama has created a buzz among young people that hasn't been there in previous elections.""

Chad Keister" chairmen of the social studies department at Enloe" echoed Brogden's thoughts. He said students are now more involved and informed during class discussions.

""There is something qualitatively different about this election. Students are animated and engaged in ways that I've never seen here in my 10 years at Enloe" Keister said.

I've even got kids now reading the Washington Post online" which I've never had before.""

At Broughton"" civics teacher Laura Lineberger and her colleagues have altered the curriculum to better educate students about elections.

""We decided as a group of civics teachers to teach the curriculum out of order this year so that we could teach political parties and elections prior to the actual election"" Lineberger said.

Civics classes are extra exciting this year. I'm taking every opportunity I can to keep the kids paying attention and understanding what is going on.""

Robert Leming" director of the Center for Civic Education's We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program that provides teaching materials that encourage political participation" praised teachers' efforts to keep students engaged in the election.

""Every election is important"" but this one really is historic. You've got a chance for a woman vice president or a black president.""



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