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Eric Hagan, 17, a senior at Boyle County High School, is one of six student panelists who will tape the "Student Voices - Election 2012" show today. (Submitted / October 3, 2012) |
Two local students will be on prime-time television as part of a youth panel discussing political issues the night of the Oct. 11 vice-presidential debate at Centre College.
Maya Craig-Lauer, 17, a senior at Danville High School, and Eric Hagan, 17, a senior at Boyle County High School, are two of six student panelists who will tape the “Student Voices — Election 2012” show today.
The Kentucky Educational Television program, moderated by Rene Shaw, will be broadcast just before the airing of the vice-presidential debate.
Kentucky Youth Advocates selected the panelists from a group of video submissions. Craig-Lauer, the daughter of Alison and Michael Lauer of Danville, created her video around the topic “Youth Obesity in the Bluegrass.” Craig-Lauer, who is taking five Advanced Placement courses this year, hopes to become an epidemiologist so she can study the causes and effects of health issues such as obesity.
“Generally, I’m interested in art and science,” Craig-Lauer said. “But being a part of this program has made me much more interested in learning about the politics of both parties.”
Hagan, the son of Sheila and Kevin Hagan of Danville, discussed in his video entry his opinion that education in Kentucky has become about “teaching to a test” and that teachers are not paid enough money for their work. Hagan is active in Boyle’s marching band and hopes to teach English at the secondary school or college level.
“I look forward to talking about how teachers are given way too many students and are not encouraged to teach critical-thinking skills because of Kentucky’s focus on standardized test scores,” Hagan said.
The other four student panelists are Eltuan Dawson from Seneca High School in Louisville, Jason Jewell from Central High School in Louisville, Alexandria Knipp from West Carter High School in Carter County and Tia Thé from Lexington Catholic High School.
The program will be aired after little editing and is geared toward discussion of teen issues especially in light of the upcoming presidential election, said Nancy Carpenter, senior director of education for KET.
Thirty students from across the state will attend today’s taping in Lexington, including Danville students Joseph Alcorn, Haley McCowan, Phoebe Ross and Calvin Steber; Boyle students Laura Elsea, Leah England, JT Henderson and Mollie Lafavers; and Daniel Crall and Emily Hines from Danville Christian Academy.
