Off the I-15

Just started compressing the first batch of videos from the BHS candidate forum. Mark Hassell and his government students did an excellent job with the forum. The questions asked were new, and I think they challenged the candidates to think on their feet. Before and after the forum, the candidates were swamped by students asking questions.

Video from the entire forum will be up on www.desertdispatch.com by Friday evening.

What was also impressive was the turnout Thursday night. Almost the entire home bleachers of the new gym were full of students, parents and people from the community. Hassell remarked they don’t get this big of a crowd for basketball games.

Hassell shared a few secrets with me to ensuring a good turnout, well really one, tie it to the students’ grade. Students from several classes got credit or extra credit for attending the forum. Hassell said he offered even more credit if a student dressed up (many were in shirts and ties, skirts and blouses) and brought someone of voting age. One student made sure that Hassell met his step-mom, a registered voter.

It was a gimmick, yes, but it got people out; it got people together, and maybe someone learned something Thursday night.

Aaron Aupperlee | city editor

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.