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In Conversation With

In Conversation With ... Alison Lundergan Grimes

on Kentucky students‘ involvement in civic activities

Kentucky School Advocate

September 2018

In Conversation With … features an interview between a leader or figure involved in public education and a representative of the Kentucky School Advocate.

Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes discusses Kentucky students’ involvement in civic activities and ways in which her office encourages students to have an impact on their communities. They include encouraging their voter registration efforts, promoting engagement with lawmakers in Frankfort and their communities, pursuing internships in her office and in other government offices, and participating in essay contests sponsored by her office.

Q: Has the level of civic engagement in Kentucky schools increased or decreased in the last few years?

A. During my seven years as secretary of state, I’ve seen Kentucky students continue to increase their involvement. Every year I’ve seen more and more young people here in the capital making their voices heard, not only to lawmakers, but especially to the media. I think this is going to be a generation that’s known for its activism and positive thinking toward making change. Many people believe that in the era of texting, tweeting and chatting, these students are the lost generation. But I believe our young people are naturally more engaged. And there are more ways for them to be connected and avenues to voice their opinion, to get their message out, not only to elected representatives but to their peers.

Q. How does the secretary of state’s office encourage students to be more civically engaged?

A. A big part of our work has been the civic health tours that we have conducted and the civic health study, which has shown we have improved engagement in Kentucky over the seven years – especially when it comes to students and their interest in government and politics. More students are hosting voter registration drives. More students are seeking internships in government, especially here in our office. More students are participating in civic organizations and taking part in programs that educate them and make them aware of how to participate in government, such as the YMCA’s Kentucky Youth Assembly program. I have made sure our students know they have an advocate not just here in Frankfort, but across the commonwealth, fighting for them, not betting against them, and have embraced their views on how we shape policy here in Kentucky.

Q. Do high-visibility issues like this year’s teacher rallies seem to lead to increased engagement? Are there other factors that have impact on the level of civic engagement?

A. What I’ve seen is that any time there’s a major policy discussion, engagement is driven up. But I believe our young people are constantly at the forefront of issues and ahead of where the general electorate is, especially when you think about issues like helping our veterans by making medicinal marijuana legal here in Kentucky. Students are able to see when an issue is something that could help bring in revenue and also help people. They were able to see that, for instance, when we talked about bringing gaming to the state.

Q. When big issues die down, does civic involvement also wane?

A. I don’t think it takes the high-visibility issues for them to stay engaged. I do think it’s heartening that when such high-visibility issues occur, they aren’t afraid to be the ones leading not only the movement and the moment, but making sure that it matters long- term. And you just have to look to people like Emma Gonzalez, a high school student leading rallies not only down in Florida but to change policy across the United States and the world.

Q. In what other ways does your office encourage civic engagement?

A. We offer the internships, which were the first of their kind here in Kentucky, and give students the opportunity not only during (legislative) session, but during the summer, winter and fall programming, to be here in Frankfort and see how things operate. We also have our essay and slogan contest where, annually, we get every high school and middle school involved. Most recently, we have a partnership with Inspire Kentucky (Inspire US is a nonpartisan group that supports high schools’ peer-to-peer voter registration activities) and Kentucky’s YMCA to help get eligible high school students registered to vote. The award tied to the effort is the Georgia Davis Powers Award, named for the first African-American female state senator in Kentucky. Sen. Powers was an advocate for equality not only in education, but especially at the ballot box. And, she knew that young people are going to be the ones writing the next chapter in our history books.

Q. How does that awards program work?

A. We honor high schools for outstanding voter registration efforts at three levels, with the gold award for registering 100 percent of eligible student voters; silver for 90 percent; and bronze for 75 percent. We also award the Kentucky Outstanding Civic Education Leadership Award each year to an educator. It is given during the boys Sweet Sixteen basketball tournament.

Q. Do some schools register 100 percent of eligible voters?

A. Yes. For instance, we just honored Lafayette High School in Fayette County for registering 100 percent of eligible voters. (Editor’s note: See story, page 12) Their voter registration effort occurred over the span of two years and an outgoing senior and an ingoing senior coordinated it. One is now in college, one is on the way to college.

Q. Are student-led efforts more effective?

A. Yes, when it’s peer to peer, it is received better than any message I could ever try to communicate. Through the efforts of these young people across Kentucky, we’re seeing our high schools get engaged, stay engaged and compete in a healthy way to make a difference in our democracy.

Q. What impact do you think requiring a civics test for graduation will have on civic engagement?

A. Well, I hope it will be a more renewed focus for young people that civics education matters. The more real and relatable we can make government to students, the more engagement we will see. My hope is that civics will give them the awareness, and the tools that I’ve spoken of that are here at our office, for instance, are a way to make it a reality.

Q. What are some other benefits when students are more engaged in civic matters?

A. We see enhanced communications in the school among peers. And, they’ve been able to have an even stronger relationship with their teachers and administrators – those that are supporting their effort in a way that I have not seen occur with just curriculum taught in their classrooms. So, activism both in the students, but also in the staff, is being nurtured in schools that I’ve seen. Efforts led and driven by peers, those are the ones that are successful. And, those are the efforts that should be duplicated.

Q. If you were talking to a school superintendent and school board members, what would you tell them they could do to encourage more civic engagement?

A. I would first thank them for welcoming me into their schools to talk with students about what the secretary of state does, how the executive branch of government operates and what we need their help with, because it’s important for students to have a relationship with elected officials. They are having an impact now on making sure that their parents are going to go vote, their grandparents are voting, their aunts, their uncles, their brothers, their sisters, even if they themselves aren’t eligible to vote.

Q. Are there other points you would make?

A. Yes. I think voter registration drives make a huge impact. I think inviting those from Frankfort into their community is a great thing. But I also think bringing kids to Frankfort to see how things work is huge.

Q. You’ve also pointed out that it is important to encourage civic organizations in the schools, at all levels.

A. This isn’t something that just begins in middle and high school. We have elementary students who want to have a say, for instance, in what they’re able to eat at lunch throughout the week. So, it is important to create civic organizations that are focused on positive impacts, not only in the schools but in the community.

Q. What role do school leaders play in these students’ efforts?

A. They need to support the students. When students have rallies and causes that they are passionate about, rather than standing in their way, issuing tardy slips, or telling students that they are going to detention, we should support them. We should be passionate about helping them. And, we should make sure that the tools that they need are at their fingertips to make it a reality.

Q. Any closing thoughts?

A. I think it is really important for schools to be supportive of young people who are engaged and inspiring other students to join them. We want also to make sure that these schools are involved with the activity. It’s important, too, that schools participate in Inspire Kentucky and have an Inspire chapter in their school so that eligible students can get registered to vote. This is a way they can make a difference and start the conversation about what engagement truly means. It’s not just on election day. It’s each and every day of the year.