Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019 - Monday, 4 November 1996.
The students, who today interviewed Democratic National Committee Chairman Senator Chris Dodd, Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour and Reform Party National Chairman Russel Verney in Ameritech's long distance videoconference, were asked to gauge their personal level of concern on a variety of social issues and politics in general. Issues included job opportunities after graduation, education, terrorism, AIDS, lifetime direction, peer pressure, crime, drugs and alcohol.
The three greatest concerns among all respondents were: AIDS (33 percent); future employment (24 percent) and the adequacy of education (19 percent). Seventeen percent of students said terrorism and not having a plan for the future were great concerns; 15 percent noted peer pressure.
The results revealed that more than half (53 percent) of the students strongly felt politicians spend too much time in fund raising and re-election efforts, while only one in five (21 percent) agreed that the political process works. Nearly 70 percent of respondents said they would not consider running for political office.
When asked who they would vote for in the upcoming election, the students chose Clinton over Dole by a margin of 62 to 17 percent, with 13 percent favoring Ross Perot.
"What young people have to say is important and deserves to be shared with a wider audience. This survey shows today's teens have serious concerns in an era far more complicated and challenging than teens faced in earlier generations," said Steven P. Nowick, president of Ameritech's long distance subsidiary. "Ameritech sponsored the Long Distance LearningLink survey and videoconference to enhance the educational experience of America's children which we believe is one of the best uses of our long distance technology."
Students also completed answers on what they would tell the presidential candidates if they were given the opportunity. Illinois and Ohio students noted education reform and funding as major issues the candidates should address. They also indicated a strong rejection of the current political process and politicians.
Michigan students insisted that education funding, lower taxes, abortion, aid for the homeless and reduction of the national debt were critical issues. Predominant themes from Wisconsin students included violence, welfare, gun control and school reform.
Direct comments from the students included:
"Represent all of the people. Homosexuals, AIDS victims, minorities. They're all people and have rights," one Ohio student asserted.
According to a student from Illinois, the candidates should, "Stop playing politics and get down to business."
A student in Michigan said, "I want to know what they are going to do about abortion and the national debt."
"Instead of worrying about gays in the military, how about worrying about crime on the streets. Get us more police," noted a Wisconsin student.
The survey was conducted by Market Facts, a national polling organization. Schools participating in the four-state Ameritech survey and video news conference were Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, Illinois (near Chicago); Madison University High School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Melvindale High School, Melvindale, Michigan (near Detroit); Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center, Columbus, Ohio.
Ameritech's Long Distance LearningLink pilot program connects students to real world/real time events and newsmakers through traditional teaching methods and Ameritech's long distance technology. Long Distance LearningLink is part of Ameritech's SuperSchool '96 program that uses collaborative educational projects to examine how access to communications technologies impacts and enriches students' lives.
A worldwide leader in making communications easy, Ameritech (NYSE: AIT) serves millions of customers in 50 states and 40 countries. Ameritech provides a full range of communication services, including local and long distance telephone, cellular, paging, security monitoring, cable TV, electronic commerce, on-line services and more. One of the world's 100 largest companies, Ameritech (www.ameritech.com) has 66,000 employees, 1 million shareowners and $23 billion in assets.
CONTACT: Margaret Densley, 847-928-8749, or 1-800-800-9725 (PIN #5381470) pager, or margaret.a.densley@ameritech.com, or Verla Gillmor, 312-201-8700, both of Ameritech
Copyright (c) 1996/PR NewsWire. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
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