EDUCATION: C-SPAN BUS TO VISIT CAPE SCHOOL AFTER CAMPAIGN OF E-MAILS

C-SPAN community relations representative Meghan Stalebrink was impressed when parents, students and faculty of Cape Girardeau Central High School began sending her e-mail messages two months ago asking that the C-SPAN school bus visit the school.

After receiving 50 e-mail messages, one that included a virus that shut down her computer for a day, Stalebrink said she knew the school could not be put off by a two-year waiting list or other minor details.

"It obviously helped that they e-mailed me incessantly, but when the virus shut down my computer I thought 'OK, OK, I'll send the bus,'" Stalebrink said. "This wasn't just a school project where the teacher told everybody to e-mail. I could tell that they'd done a little research."

A C-SPAN school bus will visit Central High School from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 20. The 45-foot, bright yellow buses are specially outfitted with video monitors, computers and television equipment. Half of the bus serves as a mobile classroom used to instruct the public on the importance of the role media play in politics. The other half of the bus is a working production studio.

Stalebrink said the buses are provided as a public service of C-SPAN and cable systems. Although closely scheduled trips to St. Louis and Memphis, Tenn., were booked months ago, the side trip to Cape Girardeau was squeezed in because of "a genuine interest."

The e-mail campaign was the brainstorm of Julia Jorgensen, Central High School's librarian who first saw a C-SPAN bus during an educational conference in St. Louis last year.

Jorgensen said she was "just overwhelmed with what the bus looked like, what it had and the people that brought the bus," and immediately began working with local cable television representatives and others to bring the bus to Cape Girardeau.

"I sent a lengthy e-mail expressing how much Cape Girardeans have supported our school district and how excited we are about public education," she said. "This is a real victory that we got them here. They were going to drive right by us."

Students said C-SPAN's decision to visit Cape Girardeau demonstrates the power people have to make decisions. It's a good lesson for voters who may participate in their first elections next month.

"Most younger high school students don't really care about politics, but I think this might help them to get more involved," said Sarah Muench, 18. "They need to know so whenever they turn 18 they will be able to vote in elections and make educated decisions."

Christy Schlosser, 16, said the visit also demonstrates an important link between youth and adults.

"I think a lot of students think that adults view them as a generation that doesn't know anything or care," she said. "They think adults don't want their opinions, but that's not true. They will listen."

VISIT FROM C-SPAN

Where: Central High School

When: Friday, Oct. 20, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.