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| The Anniston Star September 11, 2002 Area students ponder the future of American democracy By Jennifer Ginsberg Star Staff Writer Is America dying? That is the question former Congressman Glen Browder posed Monday night to provoke area high school students to think about the future of American democracy. "We've got to make sure you know as much about American democracy as you do Britney Spears," Browder told an audience of about 50 at the Anniston/Calhoun County Public Library. The audience was mostly students from Pleasant Valley and White Plains high schools. Browder is the Eminent Scholar in American Democracy at Jacksonville State University. He is leading a series of public discussions throughout Alabama this fall. "I would like to challenge you young people to start thinking about the future of American democracy, and accept responsibility," Browder said. "You have to start talking among yourselves and your teachers, and get involved in American democracy. Talk to people who are running for public office and ask them about their vision for America." Jack Price, a junior at White Plains High School, said he doesn't think America is dying. He cited the nation's resolve after the terrorist attacks of last September. "It shows how strong the U.S. is," Price said. "Any other county this would have happened to probably wouldn't have reacted as quickly and powerfully." After discussing the definition of America and what students were most proud of and least proud of about the United States, Browder asked, "what we can do in the schools to have a democratic rebirth?" Lindsey Hinkle, a senior at Pleasant Valley High School, said teens should pay more attention and get involved. "I feel like the people aren't paying attention, and that our generation is careless," Hinkle said. A lot has changed since the Framers wrote the Constitution, she said. "Now our intelligence is higher and our communication is lightning fast, but no one cares any more or pays more attention." Stephanie Matthews, an American history teacher at White Plains High School, said her students are not apathetic about the government, especially since the Sept. 11 terrorist events. "They seem to me to want to learn more about it," Matthews said. "They realize that that's why were attacked - because of our freedoms." Jason Cox, a history teacher at White Plains, also says students are not apathetic. They just don't know how to get involved, although they want to, he said. Cox said there are some opportunities in the schools for students to learn about governing, such as the student council association, the election of class officers and officer positions in school clubs. Hinkle said she would like to see more groups for teens to get involved in politics, to separate fact from fiction. Hinkle and other students said they would have liked to have started civics education at an earlier age. Hinkle said her current senior government and economics class is the first civics class she has taken. Calhoun County has changed its curriculum in the past few years, Cox said. Students who are currently seniors did not have the seventh grade civics and geography class that is now part of the curriculum. Now, the school system offers courses containing civics education in four out of six grades from 7th through 12th grades, said Matthews, who teaches 10th and 11th grade American History at White Plains High School. Browder is working with the Calhoun County school system to put together a course of study, called the American Democracy Project, to challenge students to think about "what America means" and "how America ought to work" in the 21st century. Matthews and Cox both are involved in helping to develop materials, such as proposed activities and assignments, to coincide with Browder's research. The finished material will include a video and workbook to serve as supplementary material to Calhoun County's textbooks. Browder and the school system hope to have the program in place for the 2003 school year to be used in all of its schools. "We need to engage young people or else we'll just drift," Browder said. "I don't think America will die, but we'll transition into the American Federation." About Jennifer Ginsberg University of Missouri graduate Jennifer Ginsberg is a Pennsylvania native. She covers education for The Star. Contact Jennifer Ginsberg Phone: Fax: E-mail: 256-235-3552 256-241-1991 jginsberg@annistonstar.com |
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