Government class raises political awareness
By Kelly Alm
When social science teacher John Scharfenberg encouraged his 12th-grade government students at Highland School to register to vote last December, only five of the 10 eligible students returned the next day having done so.
“I don’t want to sound cliche, but voting is an American duty,” said Highland senior Jon Henry, who was among the first in the class to register. “As 18 year olds it is one of our only rights, and I want to take advantage of that right.”
Senior Katie Hasse, also among those to initially register, agreed, stressing the particular importance of this year’s upcoming primaries.
For Henry and Hasse though, merely guaranteeing their own path to the poll wasn’t enough. “We wanted everyone to vote,” Hasse said.
The two seniors added a message to the upper school’s morning announcements, reminding any 17-year old students who would turn 18 by the Nov. 4, 2008 presedential election, that they were eligible to vote in the primaries.
The announcement, posted on the school’s daily bulletin, caught the attention of Meagan Catalfamo, assistant director of college counseling and director of service learning at Highland, and social science chair Robert Franz.
“It peaked my interest,” said Catalfamo, who along with Franz, helped organize a class assembly, where Henry and Hasse reiterated the importance of registering to vote and passed out registration forms.
Upper school director Mary Fahning decided to assist their cause. Providing an alluring incentive for a senior class accustomed to donning school uniforms, Fahning promised a “dress-down” day for the senior class if Henry and Hasse could succeed in registering everyone eligible to vote. According to Henry, all eligible students, including a few juniors registered.
While a number of people can be credited for successfully rallying the senior class to register, both Henry and Hasse credit Scharfenberg’s government class, required for all Highland seniors, for providing the foundation to make informed choices when they go to the polls.
At the beginning of the semester, Scharfenberg hands out copies of the Citizen and Immigration Services (CIS) study guide to his students, a list of 96 questions typically used to prepare immigrants for the U.S. citizenship test.
“It’s a fun exercise in civics,” said Scharfenberg, who uses the questions to assess his students’ general knowledge of U.S. government.
While the study guide is not graded, according to Henry, some students in his government class last semester missed enough questions to fail.
“Some [students] are really passionate about politics, but others didn't even know who the vice president was, when the primary was or who was running,” Henry said.
However, this quickly began to change.
In September, each of Scharfenberg’s government students drew the name of a primary candidate from a hat. The students followed the candidates’ campaigns over the course of the semester, presenting weekly briefs and engaging in discussions about key issues.
Scharfenberg brings various sources of information to the table- — including political cartoons and satires — which he uses as windows through which his students can explore the different sides of a political issue.
“I try to show them that the issues are complex,” Scharfenberg said, “that they’re not just black and white, that they need to dig at the surface.”
While government class provides many teens with their first in-depth introduction to politics, from which they can begin forming their own conclusions, other students have already reacted in favor of or against the political views or party affiliations of their parents.
“Parents influence some kids,” Hasse said, about her classmates. “But some kids are rebelling. They’re not just going to vote for who their parents are going to.”
Hasse’s father is a diehard Republican and her mother a liberal Democrat, she said.
“I guess I’m lucky that I’m pulled in both directions, and am getting both sides,” she said. “Though, I personally have decided to vote Democratic this time,” she added.
Gay rights, Iraq, and the economy are key issues that will influence her decision at the polls this year, she said.
Henry has attended local government meetings with his father, who sits on the Rappahannock County Planning Commission, since he was a child.
He pointed out that teenagers who are less familiar with the candidates or issues are more likely to mimic their parents’ votes, but he already knows that Social Security and the environment will be at the forefront of his mind when he votes in the primary this February.
“My parents have influenced me to be active and learn as much as I can about each candidate,” Henry said, “but, not on who I will vote for.”
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