Massapequa High School Advanced Placement Government and Economics classes, taught by Daniel Bachman and James Koester, recently attended a special Evaluation of Presidential Leadership Symposium at Hofstra University where two seniors, Danielle Bianco and Colin McGuire, were recognized with Awards of Excellence for the essays they wrote on topics related to presidents and politics. The symposium provided high school students and teachers with evaluations of presidential leadership from the perspective of keynote speakers Republican Party consultant Ed Rollins and former Vermont governor and presidential candidate Howard Dean.
“The students enjoyed the symposium and brought back an energetic discussion to their AP social studies classes,” said Bachman.
Colin, who was selected to ask a question at the symposium, inquired about Howard Dean’s 50-state strategy, a plan to build up party infrastructure and candidate recruitment at every level and in every state. According to Bachman, both Rollins and Dean focused on the theme that asking for a citizen’s vote is a matter of respect and responded on the topic by noting the problems associated with voter apathy, energizing the youth vote and appealing to voters in the opposing party.
Both speakers were given copies of all selected essays, which will be published into a commemorative booklet and sent to each of the essay winners, the AP teachers, the high school principals, and the superintendents of schools.
