What issues do six year olds face in the political realm?
For students involved in the University of Virginia's Youth Leadership Initiative, one six year old "was so upset that kids her age couldn't vote that she e-mailed her congressman," said Lea Brown, director of instruction for the YLI.
The YLI, an online effort run by the University's Center for Politics, provides free lesson plans and resources intended to engage elementary through high school students in the political process.
In the last two-and-a-half years, the number of teachers involved in the YLI has increased from approximately 1,400 teachers to 14,000, Brown said.
The program is designed to reduce cynicism and apathy among youth regarding the political system and encourage them to become involved in many different facets of government, Brown said.
"Targeting young voters is more effective if you don't wait until they're 18," Brown said.
The program was created in conjunction with the Center for Politics at the University in 1998 by Politics Prof. Larry Sabato. In its first years, the program was primarily used by teachers in Virginia, but it now has spread to every state, as well as the District of Columbia and American Department of Defense schools in Europe and the Pacific.
The teacher resource Web site offers a "More Perfect Union" CD that allows students to participate in a campaign simulation.
It also allows students in grades K-12 to participate in a mock election prior to fall elections and a program in making public policy in the spring, YLI Director Ken Stroupe said.
In the current mock election, which began two weeks ago and will run until Oct. 28, more than 300,000 students from more than 9,000 schools have cast their votes so far.
"The mock election is just the hook" into a larger political awareness program, Stroupe said. He said the program is built to help youth understand that "people's opportunity and responsibility to get involved in politics does not start or end at the ballot box."
Brown said that the YLI hopes to "help teachers engage students in meaningful political activity," so that students can move beyond textbook learning and become involved in government.
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