Despite having different political beliefs, Franklin County High School students say attending a speech by President Bill Clinton was an important educational experience.

More than 1,500 students from Franklin County and Western Hills high schools attended the rally where Clinton was campaigning on behalf of his wife, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton. The choirs and bands from both schools also performed at the event attended by more than 4,000.

"It was a once in a life-time experience to see and hear a former president in Frankfort," said Chloe Bates, president of the Franklin County High School Young Democrats club.

Bates, a junior, said Clinton is an excellent speaker.

"He really got the crowd going," she said.

Clinton discussed a number of issues, including the rising cost of higher education, global warming, the recession and healthcare. He talked about his wife's plan to create an energy fund to promote more fuel-efficient cars and clean-coal technology.

Bates said her classmates were also concerned about rising college tuition and global warming.
"I think global warming is a really big issue," she said. "I liked hearing what Hillary would do to put that technology on the fast track so it can be implemented in society."

The rally inspired discussion among her classmates and Bates said it might make some of them more likely to vote in the future.

"Sometimes politics seems like something distant done by men smoking pipes in back rooms," she said. "Hearing (president Clinton) talk about it in person is really different."

Patrick Smith is a history teacher at Franklin County and the staff adviser to the Young Democrats. The club has about 20 active members and he said the group is split between Clinton and her rival, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

"I think it was a good idea to take them," Smith said.

Although he's a member of the Young Republicans at Franklin County High School, junior Aaron Mayes said it was good to see the former president speak.

"It's important for people to be allowed to make up their own minds and see what ideals the parties stand for," he said.

Although he disagreed on a number of issues, Mayes said the speech was a good opportunity for students to learn about the candidates and the issues.

"It allowed people to see what the Democrats are trying to say and what their battle cries will be," he said.

Laura Freire teaches algebra and is the Young Republicans staff adviser. She said the students were respectful of Clinton but that she wanted a chance to include a more balanced perspective.
"Still, it's good for the students to see Democracy in action," Frerie said.

James Klotter, professor of history at Georgetown College and state historian, said Clinton's sweep through Kentucky was unusual. Clinton was scheduled to speak in Paris, Maysville and Morehead as well.

"For Kentucky to be in the spotlight during the primary is highly unusual," Klotter said.

Prior to the 1970s most of the nominees were picked at the convention and primaries and caucuses were rare, Klotter said. Since primaries have become more important, most candidates have spent their time and money in larger battleground states, he said.

"It's historically unusual to have a primary of this significance in Kentucky," he said.

Franklin County Schools Communications Coordinator Wayne Dominick said only about 170 students did not attend the rally and spent the time either reading or doing homework. He said most classes picked up their normal schedules after lunch and might rearrange their schedule later this week.

"Even if they had to miss a few classes, I think it was worth it," Dominick said.

Students were required to bring a signed permission slip in order to attend, and Dominick said students were not rewarded if they went to the rally.

Several local politicians also attended the event, including Franklin County Judge-Executive Ted Collins, Frankfort Mayor Bill May, Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, and Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort.

Collins said he was pleased with the turnout, especially on such short notice.

Rollins said he thinks it's time for the country to elect its first female president.

"It's time for Democrats to shine," he said.

Carroll said he's known the Clintons since he was governor of Kentucky in 1974. He said the former first lady will end the war in Iraq and Clinton has pledged to start withdrawing troops 60 days after she takes office.

"We've lost 4,000 troops but Hillary will bring our men home," Carroll said.