Palm Beach County Students Passionate And Articulate At White House Youth Roundtable
Student Government Association student officers from around Palm Beach County and students from Lynn University participated in a roundtable discussion at Palm Beach Central Community High School Tuesday, April 26, 2011. After President Obama announced that he was tasking his administration with participating in 100 Youth Roundtables all over the country, Palm Beach County students took that challenge to heart.
Dr. Doug Dobson, Executive Director of the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship, and Dr. Robert Watson, Professor of American Studies at Lynn University, served as moderators for the roundtable. Students discussed issues of mutual concern, including education reform, student safety, cyber bullying, and the 21st century job market. Laurie Cotton, Social Studies Administrator for the School District stated, “The students were articulate and passionate as they conversed on issues relevant to them. We sincerely hope that this roundtable forum will become an annual event.”
Although White House staff members were not present at the Palm Beach County roundtable, the webcast and transcript of the discussion have been submitted to the White House. There, the Youth Team will gather the information and contact all participants in the coming weeks via White House conference calls, web chats, and other opportunities to speak with staff members from the Obama administration on a number of important issues.
Presidents and White Houses of the past have encouraged citizens to debate and discuss issues of the day, as the freedom to do so is one of the great strengths of a democratic society.
For more information please contact Ms. Cotton at 561-357-1160 or cottonl@palmbeach.k12.fl.us .
