To the Editor:
Thank you for your article “Campaign Drama, Classroom Lessons” (Jan. 23, 2008). It is very important that teachers make the most of the teachable moments presidential elections present. I appreciated the list of classroom resources that was included with the article, but wanted to point out another valuable resource that was missing.
The Youth Leadership Initiative at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging America’s young people by providing the best in civics education resources for their teachers. All of our interactive programs are free of charge, including a student-only mock election, a campaign simulation, and many lesson plans on the election process. All of these resources and more can be accessed via our Web site, www.youthleadership.net.
Before taking my position with the Youth Leadership Initiative, I was a classroom teacher and used its mock election and lesson plans with my students. It was a great way to motivate them, and I wanted other teachers to know about this resource.
Margaret Heubeck
Director of Instruction
Youth Leadership Initiative
Center for Politics
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Va.
