Rich Catalano will have plenty of "current events" to talk about in his government classes in Dunkirk this fall — a monthlong stalemate in the state Senate, rowdy town hall meetings on a controversial federal health care plan, the challenged appointment of a lieutenant governor and the importance of every single vote.

For Lori Megivern, current events could well replace the texts in her senior law classes.

"I have to throw away the textbooks and deal with what's actually happening," said Megivern, president of Cortland United Teachers. Real-world experiences, she said, are much more relevant to students.

"I am intrigued by how aware the students are of government," she said. "They come into class having read and having knowledge of what's going on."

That awareness and interest was exhibited this summer for Donna Lynch, a government teacher at Shenendehowa High School in Saratoga County. Several of her current and former students were front and center at an area visit by Vice President Joe Biden.

Her students have met Al Gore, Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton, "while he was still president." Making personal connections, she said, is "the only way for students to see how all these things that go on in Washington and Albany affect their lives."

In addition to the usual balancing act of teaching about state government while remaining neutral on the issues, Catalano said the biggest impact the latest legislative session will have on his lessons is the importance of voting.

"It all comes down to that their votes do matter, whether voting for a state senator, a representative or the governor," said Catalano, vice president of the Dunkirk Teachers Association. "I still have to stress that every vote does count and they have to know the issues."

One of those issues, Catalano said, includes a flaw in the state constitution that doesn't allow for appointment of a successor when a lieutenant governor is appointed governor (and there's a Senate debate about who's in charge.)

Perhaps Megivern's law classes may have some insight. Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, D-Tompkins/Cortland, is a regular guest presenter.

This year, Catalano's lessons about voting rights, state budgets and elections will be paired with etiquette lessons spurred by the raucous town hall debates on health care reform.

The town hall meetings are on Lynch's agenda as well.

"The lack of civility is just awful," Lynch said.

No matter the topic, Catalano noted, students need to understand that even in debates, cooler heads must prevail.

"It will be an exciting year," he said.