If this candidate wins, how will it change your lives? That’s a question Trinity High School teacher Betty Gallander poses often to her students these days as she weaves national news into her Natchez classroom. As Gallander’s students, and other young people throughout the Miss-Lou, watch the drama of a presidential election unfold in the national media, teachers, politicians and even parents are focused on the most important lesson of all for these youngsters: What does it mean to me … and why should I care?

For Gallander, a key is to teach students to &uot;think for themselves&uot; when they decide who to support for president.

&uot;I ask them, ‘Right now, if this candidate wins, how will it change your lives?’&uot; she said.

It’s a trick question, of course, because the students must think about how a national issue connects to their lives … a connection that leaders hope will spark the desire to participate in the democratic process by voting — regularly.

As a high school teacher, Gallander deals with an age group often perceived not to care about politics.

To pique their interest, Gallander said she challenges students to make their own decisions rather than tell them why the election is important.

&uot;I try to point out the differences between the two candidates and then let them decide for themselves,&uot; she said.

But that doesn’t always work, some experts say.

&uot;Young people are turned off by politics,&uot; said Steve Guyton, student coordinator for the Mississippi Republican Party. &uot;They think it doesn’t affect them.&uot;

Guyton, who has worked with children and young adults for much of his career, said the best way to get young people interested in politics is to make it fun, Guyton said.

But how do you do that?

&uot;How do you get a kid interested in football? You take them to Ole Miss and State and Southern games,&uot; Guyton said.

When parents attend political rallies and meetings, Guyton encourages them to take their children along and introduce them to the politicians.

&uot;That way, when they study it in school, they can say, ‘Hey, I met him!’&uot;

Guyton said he is also a big believer in the power of pizza to recruit students to political clubs and local campaigns.

&uot;Pizza and politics go hand in hand,&uot; he said, laughing.

Libby Voss, head of Cathedral High School’s history department, believes in letting her students make up their own minds about politics.

&uot;We give them the facts … then ask the questions: ‘What do the candidates say?’ and ‘How do they feel about it?’&uot; Voss said.

Voss said her senior students are much more interested in the election than juniors, probably because the older students are anticipating casting their first votes.

&uot;When you get to do something for the first time, you’re going to be excited,&uot; Voss said.

Also, many of her students plan to go on to college and realize those elected to office will affect their education, she said.

But those who aren’t interested &uot;don’t know enough to be interested,&uot; she said.

Linda Bailey, a fifth-grade teacher at McLaurin Elementary School, said parents can often pass their interest in politics on to their children.

In her own classroom, Bailey said she can pick out those students whose parents follow the campaign.

&uot;If they hear their parents talking about it, you have lively discussions (in class),&uot; Bailey said. &uot;It’s amazing what they pick up.&uot;

Bailey said mock elections are an effective way to get children interested in politics.

Hands-on approaches like this are not only effective, they are needed, Bailey said.

&uot;If you don’t (get children interested), you’re going to have what we have right now — voter apathy,&uot; she said.

Shannon Ashley, a teacher at Adams County Christian School, agrees it is difficult to interest her students in politics if their parents are not interested.

&uot;Many say (their) parents don’t vote,&uot; she said. &uot;How do you expect to fight that?&uot;

Ashley said she sees a variety of views on politics in her classes.

&uot;Some of (the students) are very vocal but some of (them) couldn’t care less,&uot; she said.

And some students are very cynical and think their vote will not count, she said.

To address that problem, Ashley said she has her students discuss elections in which only a few votes would have made a difference.

Carol Brown knows that just a few votes can make a difference. That’s why she is trying to target young voters with the &uot;Lift Every Voice and Vote&uot; campaign.

Young people often think their votes don’t count or they think voting is not important, said Brown, who works with KPXS radio station.

&uot;We want to do what we can to pique their interest and get them involved,&uot; Brown said.

KPXS staff has set up voter registration booths at Natchez Mall, the radio station and on Martin Luther King Jr. Street in Vidalia, Brown said. The station has registered between 30 and 40 young voters and about 15 in Vidalia, La.

To encourage people to vote, Brown said she often talks about patriotism and the Civil Rights movement.

&uot;You just have to make them understand this is their country and they should be a part of the democratic process,&uot; Brown said.

But Brown knows she won’t be able to encourage all young people to vote.

&uot;It’s an indication that they don’t feel worthy or they don’t feel part of the whole country I guess,&uot; Brown said. &uot;It’s really sad.&uot;