Making history in Massachusetts

By Sherry Penney, Paul G, Kirk Jr., and William M. Bulger, 6/24/2000

n Tuesday, Oct. 3, the world's attention will focus on Massachusetts and the city of Boston. The first presidential debate of the general election and the first ever held in Boston will be conducted on the campus of the University of Massachusetts in Boston in partnership with its cohost, the John F. Kennedy Library.

Boston's first presidential debate presents us with a unique opportunity for national and international attention, commercial benefit, local pride, and, most important, civic education.

It is fitting that the commission selected Boston, arguably America's most historic city, as the first venue in this new century from which to educate the nation about the presidency. Our teachers are just beginning summer break, but when schools reopen this fall we encourage them to use the presidential debate as a catalyst to educate students about the roles of Boston and Massachusetts in the evolution of American democracy.

From the Mayflower Compact to the Boston Tea Party; from the seeds of independence planted in the Massachusetts Bay Colony to the battles for freedom at Lexington and Concord; from the Massachusetts Constitution as a model for America's highest rule of law to the presidencies of John Adams, John Q. Adams, Calvin Coolidge, and John F. Kennedy - the opportunity for schoolchildren to learn about Massachusetts history while history is made here on Oct. 3 gives Boston's debate particular educational significance.

The first debate should also remind all of us - particularly students - that while certain of our rights and liberties are protected in a democracy, certain responsibilities are expected of us in return. If, as has been said, ''voting is the highest responsibility of a free citizen and the basic common denominator of a representative democracy,'' as free citizens we have much work to do.

We may boast of America as the most advanced democracy in the world. Yet less than 50 percent of eligible Americans participated in the 1996 presidential election. Of eligible voters between the ages 18 and 24, only 32 percent voted that year.

In 1998, 64 percent of eligible voters chose not to go to the polls - the lowest US voter turnout in more than 50 years. Recent surveys indicate that only 28 percent of young Americans see voting as an important civic right or responsibility.

What can be done to reverse this trend? Can Massachusetts make a difference? We think so.

Civic literacy and civic engagement, like other important values, are learned either at home or school or both - or, sadly, not at all.

Young people and their parents can learn about the responsibilities and rewards of voting and becoming involved in our political system by participating in the National Student/Parent Mock Election. The mock election also helps teachers meet new civics teaching guidelines by providing stimulating classroom activities and curriculums related to the responsibilities of citizenship.

We urge teachers to take advantage of the weeks leading up to Boston's presidential debate and the national election of Nov. 7 by participating in the mock election. The engagement of students and their parents in registration drives, issues, and policy forums, mock town meetings, debates, elections, and other simulations of the electoral process will awaken some and remind others of the duties of citizenship.

The John F. Kennedy Library will serve as the statewide coordinator and the headquarters for the mock election on Nov. 2.

At UMass-Boston, the Golden Key National Society will undertake a major voter registration and issue education drive in September and October as a continuation its civic engagement programs.

We are excited about hosting the first presidential debate ever held in Boston. Equally exciting is the promise of using the Massachusetts debate to contribute toward strengthening America's democracy.

Sherry Penney is chancellor of University of Massachusetts in Boston. Paul G. Kirk Jr. is chairman of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. William M. Bulger is president of the University of Massachusetts.