We Get Students To THINK! The Franklin Forum is a high school program that puts students in the arena of public debate. Society is losing the ability to discuss difficult, controversial, or even simple issues, often not listening to the reasoning of the opposing view but instead accusing those who hold it of bad intentions. The climate of political discussion today is prohibitive, frequently degenerating into name calling. Discourse has become coarse. The Franklin Forum is a high school program that changes that dynamic. By placing students in the arena of public debate, students are obliged to think about issues and public policy, allowing them to test their opinions, hear opposing views, and debate current issues, all in a setting with a free and open exchange of ideas. The Forum teaches civility in civil discourse; the ability to disagree and still be agreeable even in a passionate exchange of views. Young people, especially from lower socio-economic levels and those with challenging family lives, often feel disconnected from society and detached from their community. The Franklin Forum gets students engaged in the world outside their circles and provides a significant link with the community and to adult role models outside the school. Students develop self-confidence, self-esteem, respect for the opinion of others and the ability to effectively communicate their views; all while gaining an appreciation of democratic principles and values. A representative democracy needs citizens who discuss and evaluate issues and vote with an educated opinion. The Franklin Forum leads to better students, and to better citizens who are more prepared to cast their vote because they have thought about what and for whom they are voting.