North Dakota students to go online to discuss governor's speech

North Dakota Gov. Ed Schafer is asking high school students to react to his upcoming State of the State address through a special e-mail account. He'll visit classrooms that offer the best ideas for North Dakota's future.

Schafer's address will be broadcast live Tuesday on North Dakota Public Radio and on the Internet at www.state.nd.us. Audio, video and text of the speech will be available on the site shortly after its completion.

The governor sent letters to 300 high school instructors who teach classes in social studies, economics, problems of democracy and government asking them to encourage students to watch or listen to his noon address. He invited students to respond to his remarks, specifically asking them to answer questions tied to the speech's major themes: "How can technology be used to improve the quality of life in your community? And what would keep you in North Dakota?"

An e-mail account has been established to submit responses to the State of the State at SOS2000@state.nd.us. Schafer is asking teachers to respond by today if their classes are planning to participate.

The submission deadline for responses is Feb. 8.