Program Details

America's Youth Forum 2004, a nationwide, civic engagement pilot project, was designed to increase young people's understanding of and interest in the democratic electoral process. Voting-age high school and college students were asked to study public policy issues important to them and the presidential candidates through the New Hampshire Primary, a key event leading up to the next year's party nomination and presidential election in November 2004.

America's Youth Forum 2004 consisted of two distinct components: the in-classroom element and the interactive youth forums with the presidential candidates.
 
In the Classroom.
Goals: To encourage teachers and students to discuss current events and public policy issues and to educate and interest students in electoral politics.

Overview: This part of the program took place the week of September 22, 2003 through November 14, 2003. For eight weeks, students identified at least one public policy issue facing the country that they found significant. Students studied the issues and what the presidential candidates' positions were on them. Teachers were asked to incorporate the issues into their lesson plans and had great flexibility in how they chose to do so. Each class was also encouraged to identify one or two students who would help to register their voting-age classmates to vote.

Resources: The New Hampshire Institute of Politics and USA TODAY provided a number of resources to teachers and students. A nationwide survey of 18-24 year olds was conducted to identify their opinions on some of the most important issues facing the country and the next president. In addition, classes:

  • Received copies of USA TODAY
  • Participated in online chats with well-known political scholars from Saint Anselm College and one of USA TODAY’s top political reporters
  • Utilized educational resources provided by The New Hampshire Institute of Politics and USA TODAY to enhance research.

Youth Forum.
Goal: To provide young people with the opportunity to ask presidential candidates questions about issues that are significant to them.

Overview: Following eight weeks of classroom discussion and research, each class was required to submit two questions that could potentially be asked at the youth forums with Governor Howard Dean, Representative Dennis Kucinich and General Wesley Clark. Classes submitted their questions online in early November. USA TODAY, The New Hampshire Institute of Politics and the moderator of the forums (New Hampshire Public Radio’s Jon Greenberg) pre-selected a number of questions to be asked. The candidates were allowed to make opening and closing statements at the forums and respond to the questions asked by participating students.

Resources: Through webcast technology, USA TODAY and The New Hampshire Institute of Politics connected participating classes from across the country to the first forum with Dean and Kucinich. Both forums were held at The New Hampshire Institute of Politics’ Auditorium at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. A live audience of 250 students and educators were in attendance.

At the culmination of America's Youth Forum 2004, participating teachers and students were required to complete an on-line program evaluation.