Presidential Classroom article from Tomorrow's American News March 24, 1969

Recently I found a copy of Tomorrow's American News that had an article I (and Mike Brown) wrote. The small "Strike Force" that was created on the East Coast with the Colwell Brothers was invited to participate in the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans as payment for doing our show at the end of the week. I enjoyed working with the Strike Force for several weeks in Florida before I was called to do a film assignment with Diarmid.

Students from Cast Confer with
NATION’S TOP STUDENTS IN WASHINGTON
   Throughout the week of seminars, lectures, discussions and visits, 16 members of a special cast of Up with people participated with other delegates to the second session of the Presidential Classroom of Young Americans in Washington D.C.
   The group, which included several members of the Up with People High School, were given full scholarships to attend the session, living in the Washington Hilton with the other 360 odd students.
   It was a special honor, as only two delegates were allowed to the Classroom from any other high school in the country.
   The Presidential Classroom, organized in five sessions, brings together academically some of the best high school students in the country. During their week in Washington, they study federal government procedures, meeting their congressmen and senators, and officials from the State Department, VISTA, the Peace Corps. and other government agencies.
   The 30-man Up with people, led by the Colwell brothers and formed recently on the east coast to do a series of special shows in the next months, climaxed the first session of the Classroom.
   During the week of the second session the 16 cast representatives had the chance to meet and talk personally with their congressmen and senators, as well as the Russian press attaché in Washington, editor of Newsweek, and other personalities who addressed the seminars.
   They had lengthy discussions with other delegates at the conference. It was not disclosed that they were cast members of Up with People until the final night when a second show wound up the second session. The comment "l should have known they were from Up with People" seemed to be typical.
   One of the originators of the program, Chairman Charles G. Allison commented after the show, "I know you have all been aware of a group within a group which has been Up with People here. They have a commitment which is the factor all of you must go home with."
   The speaker for the last evening was Padraic Kennedy, acting head of VISTA. He told members of the cast who talked with him afterwards, "l cannot get over the spirit of your crowd. If ever you have any young man or woman who has worked with Up with People. we want them in VISTA. We would like to work with you in any way possible in the country."
   For many students the show fulfilled the purpose of the Classroom. Many of the delegates asked cast members how they could join immediately or as soon as they have graduated. One of the most brilliant students at the conference stayed up till 6:00a.m. talking with one cast member about Up with People (see interview page 6). Mike Little

The second article with the interview was supposed to be posted. But now I need to find it again and all of the other copies of Tomorrow's American News. It would be good to bring to the light of day "Perspective", the publication of Blanton's letters to sponsors and friends of UWP. 

All the best my friends...