Posted at: 10/21/2009 10:42 PM
Updated at: 10/22/2009 8:03 AM
By: Kristin Martin

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Local Politicians Visit Classrooms

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Some local teachers are bringing the outside world inside the classroom. Wednesday, the first of several gubernatorial candidates met face to face with the AP Government class in Grand Meadow. The goal, to get students involved in politics by studying real life issues.

They're not even old enough to vote, but they ask some pretty tough questions.

Just ask DFL Candidate Matt Entenza, who faced up to the young political minds at Grand Meadow, "the students actually asked questions that were in some ways more sophisticated that a lot of adults do."

And with their intelligent questions came some high standards for the answers. AP Government student Jessica Wilcox says, “It was a lot better than I expected of a politician, he was pretty direct with most of his answers."

Teachers at Grand Meadow are working hard to make sure their students stay engaged in the political process. Superintendent Joseph Brown, a former politician, brought the class to the school and says, "We want them to personally meet people that they may be voting for and may be working under someday."

The school hopes to see all of the candidates names up on the marquee and students like CJ Greenwood say that when they arrive, they should also be prepared to answer some tough questions, “I'm going to ask them all the same questions until I hear one I like."

And while these students can ask the questions in person, they also recognize how important it is for their generation to get involved.

"It gives me a broader perspective for when I am older and it gets me thinking quicker,” says Jessica Wilcox.

CJ Greenwood adds, "Ignorance is a mask, you have to take it off sometime."

Politicians and teachers alike are hoping students take those masks off and become informed about the upcoming elections.

"Minnesota leads the country in voter participation and that's because we start talking about it early," says Matt Entenza.

Joe Brown agrees, "High school needs to be relevant, high school needs to be today. We need to be discussing in schools, today, the issues that are going to be affecting us forever."

The class has also asked the Republican candidates to come to their school. Each of the students will then pick one of the candidates and follow them throughout the election, as well as attend some form of political gathering.