WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) held an interactive, video town meeting with five Vermont middle schools Thursday morning to speak with students about civic engagement and democracy, and to encourage them to consider the crucial challenges facing the United States.

 

“Our students need to understand from a young age that democracy is not a spectator sport. Democracy only works when ordinary people all across this country are informed and engaged on the major issues facing our nation,” said Sanders, who serves on the Senate education committee.

 

The Vermont middle schools that participated in the video town hall on Thursday were Albany Community School, Crossett Brook Middle School, Putney Central School, Randolph Union Middle School and Twinfield Union School. Sanders participated by video conference from his Senate office in Washington.

 

After Sanders’ introductory remarks, students asked questions on a wide range of issues from climate change, to universal health care, to how students can most effectively engage in our democracy.

 

Sanders’ video town meeting with middle school students is just the most recent effort to engage students on the role citizens play in creating a healthy democracy. 

 

Sanders also holds an annual State of the Union essay contest in which Vermont high school students write about what issues they would prioritize if they were president of the United States, and organizes trips to the nonpartisan Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston to help Vermont students learn about the legislative process.