NCSL LegisBrief: America's Legislators Back to School Week

NCSL LegisBrief

Briefing Papers On the Important Issues of the Day

America's Legislators Back to School Week

By Jan Goehring

Aug./Sept. 2002
Volume 10, Number 35

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Cynicism and Distrust Among Youth. Civic participation is down among American youth. Nearly 50 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds voted in 1972, but in the 2000 election, only 33 percent went to the polls. Less than half of 18- and 19-year-olds are registered to vote. A sampling of student opinions indicates political participation and interest is low for a number of reasons. Students feel the issues that candidates talk about are not relevant. The teens also suffer from the same cynicism and distrust that are prevalent among adults. They say the cynicism comes from what they hear from parents and the media.

A poll of 18- to 24-year-olds by the National Association of Secretaries of State shows that more than 50 percent say, "You can't trust politicians because they are dishonest." Two-thirds of young people say, "My generation's voice is important, but no one is listening." Nine out of 10 agree with the statement, "A few big interests run the government." This distrust of public officials and the process has led people to stop speaking up or participating.

Besides their lack of interest in voting, students are less than proficient in civics, and rarely get to meet political leaders. More than 75 percent of fourth graders, eighth graders and 12th graders fell below the proficient level in civics in a 1998 national test, according to a report by the National Assessment of Education Progress. Only 11 percent of high school seniors have more than a basic knowledge of U.S. history, according to a 2002 national test by the same organization.

When the American Political Science Association sponsored a survey of political science students at the University of South Florida in Tampa, it showed that high school government classes don't teach the basics of being an involved citizen. Students rarely hear about government as a career option. Only 9 percent of those surveyed ever had an elected official visit their high school class. But for those who did get to talk to an elected official, running for election someday seemed more of a possibility. The majority of those who never received a visit said they would not want to seek political office.

Young people feel more positive about voting and politics as a direct result of the September 11 attacks and the war on terrorism, according to a recent national youth poll conducted by the Council for Excellence in Government. But these events apparently have not influenced their actual behavior. Today, fewer are voting, volunteering, indicating interest in running for office, or considering government service. Yet the poll did indicate that young people want to be asked.

Back to School Week. In an effort to reach out to young citizens, educate them about the legislative process, and dispel some of their cynicism, the National Conference of State Legislatures created America's Legislators Back to School Week. Now in its fourth year, the event is designed to teach students what it's like to be a state legislator-to put kids in the shoes of a lawmaker. The purpose is to help students understand the pressures, conflicts and difficulties that legislators deal with in trying to solve public problems-to make them real people. It's a simple way to focus state legislators on civic education on the same week across the country. The visits work both ways. Since legislators play a major role in education policy, they need to know what it's like for students and teachers in the schools.

The event is held during the third week of September each year and has met with tremendous success. Last fall more than 2,500 legislators participated and reached more than 250,000 students of all ages. For example, 12 Ohio senators visited 1,900 students, 36 Louisiana senators visited 4,000 students, 16 South Dakota representatives and five senators saw 1,900 students. Nevada Senator Valerie Wiener alone visited 15 schools, 70 classrooms, 1,707 kids, 94 teachers and staff, and 15 principals. Forty-eight states were involved in the event.

State Action

The event is organized on the state level by legislative staff coordinators. The coordinators develop a state-specific plan, help recruit legislators, distribute materials, serve as a liaison with schools and education associations, and coordinate evaluations. The list of Back to School coordinators can be found online at http://www.ncsl.org/public/trust/contacts_bsw.htm. NCSL supplies resources to legislators for their classroom visits that include student booklets called Your Ideas Count and a video. At least 12 professional education associations have formally endorsed the event.

Feedback from teachers and legislators has been positive. For many teachers, a textbook and lecture could not begin to match the value of a lawmaker's visit to the classroom. It brings the legislature to life for the students. Legislators also value the personal contact. Massachusetts Senator Richard Moore, an active participant in the event, believes there are many important reasons for state legislators to visit schools. "State legislators are especially qualified to help students understand their roles and responsibilities as citizens. State legislators can contribute to a much-needed improvement in the quality of civic education by sharing their experience and explaining America's tradition of representative democracy to the next generation of voters," says Moore.

This year's Legislator's Back to School Week is scheduled for September 16-20, 2002.

Selected References

NCSL America's Legislators Back to School Week Web site: http://www.ncsl.org/public/backsch.htm

Contacts for More Information

Jan Goehring, Joyce Johnson or Karl Kurtz
NCSL-Denver
(303) 830-2200 ext. 232, 119 or 118
jan.goehring@ncsl.org
joyce.johnson@ncsl.org
karl.kurtz@ncsl.org