4 days ago
A Bowdoin podcast on how government works is headed to Maine classrooms to boost civic learning
Bowdoin students and podcast hosts Natalie Emmerson and Larsen Van Horn whose "Pine State Politics: In Session" podcast will be turned into civics lessons for high schoolers. (Courtesy of Natalie Emmerson)
In January 2024, Bowdoin freshman Natalie Emmerson collected signatures for U.S. Sen. Angus King's re-election campaign. Frequently, she was asked by voters, 'isn't he already on the ballot?'
That's when she realized that by working on the campaign she was learning information about how elections and democracy work that most people didn't know.
That lesson prompted Emmerson and classmate Larsen Van Horn one year later to create a podcast called 'Pine State Politics: In Session,' where they learn and educate listeners about basic civic processes, like how a bill becomes a law, the difference between state and federal government, the role of lobbyists and much more from some of the biggest names in Maine politics: former Congressman and U.S. Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen, current Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and King himself.
'A lot of young people want to get involved, but don't know how,' Emmerson said of the political process. 'That's exactly what the point of the podcast is. We're digging into the mechanics of how everything works.'
Van Horn, who is from out of state, said the podcast is a way for her to learn more about how Maine's government and elections work, for instance, concepts like ranked-choice voting and clean elections funding. He said this is especially important because, like other college students, he is able to vote in Maine elections.
Next year, the podcast could be played in high school classrooms across Maine as part of a newly offered curriculum that Emmerson and Van Horn are partnering with the Maine Department of Education to develop.
For example, in the first episode, the hosts asked Bellows and Washington, D.C. lobbyist and University of Maine adjunct professor Peter Madigan which issues are handled locally and which are federal: Who do you call about a road that needs paving? Which office handles disability payments?
That segment will help prompt classroom discussion questions, Emmerson said, such as 'What issues can your congressperson help you with? What is a district office and what do the people who work there do?'
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'Some of these questions will require the student to look some information up for a complete answer,' she added. 'The conversation in the snippet will help point them in the right direction. That way students stay engaged and are required to ask questions and think critically about the systems they're learning about '
The department hopes the collaboration will make the democratic process more accessible and engaging for young people, particularly because it's a resource developed by other young people.
'They're a great example of youth voice in civic education, which is something we want to be promoting because … there is very low youth engagement nationwide in civic life,' said Beth Lambert, chief teaching and learning officer at the Maine Department of Education.
The podcast breaks down complex government processes in a non-partisan, approachable manner, Lambert said, which was another reason the partnership appealed to the department.
'They're not diving into polarizing policy debates in these podcasts,' she said. 'It really emphasizes how democracy works and encourages understanding across the political divides, which is key in our classrooms.'
The lesson plans, which will be available this fall, will allow high school teachers to use specific segments in civics, U.S. history, and current events classes. Since Maine allows local districts to control curriculum, teachers in each district will be able to decide whether to use the lesson plans.
But the initiative reflects the department's broader commitment to promoting youth-driven learning experiences that encourage students to understand and actively participate in democratic processes.
Next year, the department will be rolling out another learning opportunity for elementary students — interactive town halls. These day-long events, developed in partnership with the Secretary of State and local municipalities, will immerse young students in democratic processes such as town council meetings. Students will participate in various roles, such as reporters, candidates, and voters, learning about local government, the role of the media and policy through hands-on activities.
These new initiatives are part of 'broader efforts to support interdisciplinary, inclusive and relevant learning experiences,' Lambert said, which are a department priority.
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