ENACOOK, N.H. - The first surprise Mrs. Gormley's civics students got yesterday was that they had a substitute teacher.
The second surprise was his name: Al Gore.
The third was that the vice president wasn't anything like his public image.
''I pictured him a lot different, a lot more strict and set on one thing,'' said sophomore Rosie Towle. ''But he actually wanted to talk to us. He was, like, cool.''
The first thing Gore did upon his arrival at Merrimack Valley High School yesterday morning was circle the cafeteria, greeting students and attempting to speak their language.
''Hey, is that Pokemon?'' he asked one student, gesturing to the cartoon graphic on her T-shirt.
''Um, no,'' she replied, unable to stifle a smile. ''It's just a monkey.''
Gore took a few more shots at being hip during his stint as teacher, using words like ''dis'' and tossing around references to youth culture.
''Did any of you watch the Power Rangers when you were little?'' he asked. ''We're a little too old for that,'' was the quick reply, along with muffled laughter.
But still Gore won points for the effort, even if his teen phrasebook was a little out of date.
Not that it was all casual chit-chat in Mr. Gore's classroom. He began his hour-long lesson with a pop quiz on American government: What is the largest state and how many representatives does it have? What is the most populated state and how many senators does it have?
Gore used the questions to launch a discussion on checks and balances, government structure and why America's system of government is the best in the world.
''Does anyone have any questions?'' Gore asked. The only replies were silent stares and wary smiles.
The topic that finally got the teens talking was school violence. Gore asked students to speculate on why a teenager would turn to violence against his or her classmates. Reasons the students offered included broken homes and tension among cliques in school.
Gore also asked the students what about their school could be improved if there was more funding. Students described overcrowded buses, a lack of textbooks and antiquated classrooms.
As if to drive the point home, when the class clustered together for a photo with Gore at the end of the period, Sandra Mancini's desk fell apart.
Only the civics students took part in the classroom discussion, but Gore's presence was felt everywhere in the sprawling building.
Secret Service agents flanked entrances and hallways. Ann Marie Morse's keyboarding students put their bags in the front of the room so a German shepherd could sniff for explosives. Cafeteria workers in visors and aprons ducked away from pre-lunch duties to catch a glimpse of the procession of vehicles descending on the parking lot.
''This is one of the biggest things that's ever happened here,'' said Cassie Collins, a 10th grader.
''Nothing ever happens here,'' her friend Marissa said.
Gore's visit, sure to go down in school history, happened through a combination of lucky timing and old connections. Merrimack's principal, Pamela Burke, taught New Hampshire state Senator Rick Trombley during the 1970s. Gore was looking for an opportunity to speak with young people in the state. Burke and Trombley worked it out so Merrimack Valley, which has around 800 students, was that school.
The visit inspired some students to get out and vote - once they're old enough.
''People in politics need to do this more,'' Towle said. ''They need to get in touch with us and the language we use because we're the ones who are going to be voting soon.''
