Freshmen and sophomores from West Islip High School participated in a three-day National Issues Forum at Hofstra University this summer. National Issues Forums are designed to help students become responsible citizens by learning the importance of deliberation-exploring options, carefully weighing the views of others and considering the consequences of public decisions.

At the forum, the students discussed hot-button national and international issues, with an eye toward the citizen’s view of politics, racial and ethnic tensions, human rights in China, and the trend of violence in children. The volunteer faculty, consisting of many retired educators, organized the group discussions so that the youngsters focused on deliberating the various views of their peers and the options available to manage situations, rather than debating the pros and cons of the subject from narrow, personal standpoints.

Reaching beyond the summer forum days, the teens prepared to bring the art of deliberation to their schools, student governments and communities.

National Issues Forums (NIF) is a non-partisan, nationwide network of locally sponsored forums for the consideration of public policy issues.

Hofstra University History Professor Michael D’Innocenzo and Political Science Professor Rosanna Perotti gave their support to the forum faculty.

National Issues Forums will offer a fall program for high school students in November. For information, call 1-800-433-7834, or visit the Forum website at www.nifi.org