Program has students tackling state government issues

Robert Todaro, 17, argued that passing grades should be increased from 65 to 75 to give students an incentive to study.

Lili Chasen, 17, countered that some students just aren't good at school. "Instead of raising the standards, there should be a higher quality of learning in the classroom," she said.

The exchange was part of a discussion of whether New York schools should raise test standards - one of the hot-button topics 21 students from 10 Long Island schools began to tackle Thursday as part of a larger program to teach them about state government.

The students - Todaro and Chasen are rising seniors at Floral Park Memorial and West Babylon high schools, respectively - are participating in Hofstra University's Summer Fellows program, and preparing to be leaders at this fall's State Constitution High School Convention.

Accompanied by their teachers, the students are learning about the state constitution, research techniques and moderating skills they will take back to their classrooms.

Patrick Frino, 37, a social studies teacher at H. Frank Carey High School in Franklin Square, said the program is an important opportunity.

"I almost think of it as a turnkey event: They'll come, they'll learn and they are going to be teachers to other students," Frino said.

Issues to be dissected during the summer include New York's two-house legislature, the legislative redistricting process, state funding of education, Election Day and the judicial system.

Student-teacher teams from each school will create issue guides and share their findings. In September, they will present the issues and conduct forums for students at their home schools.

"The idea of getting them civically engaged, getting them to think about the choices that citizens have and encouraging them to think about the process is very, very exciting," said Bernie Stein, 63, associate director of Hofstra's Public Policy Institute, who is among the faculty leading the program.

Frank Sivilli, 17, a rising senior from H. Frank Carey High School, said the chance to participate is especially significant because he and his classmates will soon be voting. "A lot of times you don't even know these issues exist," Sivilli said.

The Fellows program is part of Renew New York, a partnership between Hofstra, News 12 Long Island and Newsday to educate New Yorkers about issues in the 2010 election.

Candice Sejour, 17, a rising senior at Uniondale High School, said she hopes to be taken seriously when she returns to school in the fall. "I hope I can use these tools in leadership to make real changes."