Imagine that a local school district has banned cell phones at schools and campuses. What can high school students who object do about it? Can even teens make a difference in their government?

Those are questions answered in a 13-minute video that helps secondary school teachers introduce students to the principles of participatory democracy and Utah's open government laws. It's a must-see for any student in Utah and highly recommended for Utah civics education.

In the video, available free to teachers or online, students learn about the fictional cell phone ban. The student actors begin a journey to understand why the local Mountain School District Board violated the state's Open and Public Meetings Act, review meeting minutes, read meeting agendas and request records. When the students discover the ban was made in an illegal closed meeting, the board is forced to reconsider the policy in open meeting with vocal protest by parents and students.

The video, "Government, It's All About You," also demonstrates the power of newspapers to help educate and inform students to participate in their government, even when they aren't old enough to vote. To be sure, the video points out that people can make a difference in their government before final action is taken.

The difference comes by exercising freedom of speech, requesting public records and monitoring the action of elected bodies. The video suggests that teens can become a bit more powerful by exercising these rights and freedoms.

The Utah Foundation for Open Government produced the video through volunteer efforts. Linda Petersen, foundation president, said, "We worry that today's youth are disconnected, that they see government as an entity that's part of their parents' world, not theirs. Nothing could be further from the truth, but how do you make them see that?"

It is designed for use in government, English, civics, journalism and other classes. Petersen hopes it prompts more interest in government.

She hopes teachers will use the video to "if not light a fire, at least light a match to help your students see how important their involvement in their own government is, and how an open government is a strong government."

The video makes a clear case about why teens should follow what's happening on Utah's Capitol Hill, at city hall or at their school board. For example, the video cites laws that affect teens' lives, including texting while driving and the requirement that a new driver may only be accompanied by a member of their immediate family for six months after getting a driver license. At the local level, it may be a city skate park or a new school that concerns teens.

Educators can order a DVD of the video or watch it online at www.ufog.net/pages/Goverment_Video/. For more information, contact Petersen at 801-554-7513, or at utahfoundation@gmail.com.

Joel Campbell is a former reporter and current associate professor of communications at Brigham Young University. His reporting does not necessarily reflect the views of BYU. He writes on First Amendment and open-government issues for The Tribune. He can be reached at foiguy@gmail.com.