The Commission on Presidential Debates chose Centre College to host the only Vice Presidential debate this year (Oct. 5, 2000), and one factor in the CPD decision was the demonstration of support by the local community.

Close to 200 children and youth sent letters, drawings, petitions -- and even a song -- asking the Commission to choose Centre as a host site. The students communicated a love of their community, confidence in Centre College, and a genuine interest in politics. The participating school systems included two public school systems (Boyle County and Danville Independent), along with Kentucky School for the Deaf. Selected letters are posted on-line (www.centre.edu/web/news/presdebate/children_page.html).

Local schools are planning debate-related units in subjects from history to art and music. Some examples:

In the Danville Independent Schools:

• Hogsett Elementary School • Student political campaign.
• Jennie Rogers Elementary School • Concert of patriotic music.
• Toliver Elementary School • Art project to produce giant paper mache elephant and donkey for front lawn.
• Bate Middle School • Student-produced public service ads.
• Danville High School • Mock version of "Fancy Farm," Kentucky's unique political event that combines a political rally with a county fair atmosphere.

[Contact for Danville Independent Schools: David Davis, 859-238-1300. DDavis@danville.k12.ky.us]

In the Boyle County Schools:

• Woodlawn and Perryville Elementary Schools • Living history displays.
• Boyle County Middle School • Parade float.
• Boyle County High School • Register seniors to vote and orient them to voting machines.

[Contact for Boyle County Schools: Paul Elwyn, 859-236-5047. pelwyn@Boyle.k12.ky.us]

Kentucky School for the Deaf: Leadership training for deaf and hard-of-hearing high school students. Tours of deaf education museum.

[Contact for KSD: Artie Grassman, 859-239-7017, ext. 2002. grassman@ksd.k12.ky.us]

Centre College has developed several special projects using the Internet as a tool for studying elections and the political process.

VeepWorld: An educational Web site exploring the history of the Vice Presidency (vpcentre.net).

High school chat room and opinion polls: The National Federation of High Schools and iHigh.com are partnering with Centre and the CPD to host an election chat room and opinion polls for high school students.

Vice Presidential Web Poll: Centre College Web site during June and July that allowed voters to indicate preferred vice presidential candidates (poll results on-line at http://callisto.centre.edu/web/news/presdebate/poll/results.php3).

Contacts in the Centre Communications Office

• Mike Norris • 859-238-5718 • norris@centre.edu
• Patsi B. Trollinger • 859-238-5719 • trllngrp@centre.edu
  

Centre College, 600 W. Walnut Street, Danville, KY 40422