Make-Believe Parliament Plays Well With Students in Denmark

The basement of the Danish parliament is abuzz with debate: Should Denmark send 1,000 peacekeepers to civil war-torn Uranium? Perhaps young criminals should have microchip implants so they can be monitored. Do we allow scientists to genetically engineer apes to test medicine for humans?

Party members enthusiastically discuss the issues, scurrying around the corridors seeking to muster a majority for or against the government’s proposals. Pressure mounts as a key debate in the 28-seat chamber approaches, and Cabinet members and lobbyists keep calling to press their cases. In the background, TV sets churn out news broadcast on the issues.

It’s all make-believe. The ministers and lobbyists are actors who appear on screens only. The lawmakers are ninth-grade students having an interactive field day in democracy as practiced in Denmark’s parliament, the Folketing.

Last year, parliament spent $3.9 million to create a computer-controlled role game for education purposes.

A scaled-down replica of the Folketing’s 179-seat chamber, including portraits of real-life politicians, ornaments and tapestry on the walls, was created in a 3,240-square-foot storage area under the neo-baroque Christiansborg Palace that houses parliament.

A cluster of 48 computers makes key protagonists appear on the monitors and dispatches e-mails, faxes and telephone calls to the students.

Since it began last March, the “Politician for a Day” program has been a huge success. About 7,000 youngsters between 14 and 16 already have taken part, and there is a six-month waiting list.

“What I can teach in class and what they see on television is hard to grasp. This gives them a hands-on experience with politics,” said Rasmus Holm-Nielsen, 32, who teaches social science.

The free-of-charge game is simple: Teenagers are divided into four imaginary political parties of similar size. They have 2 1/2 hours to muster a majority for or against proposed laws. The final vote takes place in the assembly.

“I didn’t really understand how lawmakers introduce legislation,” said Ida Bonnen, 15, who is assigned to the fictional Business Party. “Now I know. It’s not that boring after all.”

A classmate in the rival Welfare Party, Senem Kaymar, 16, expresses surprise at the complexity of political horse-trading.

Claus Christoffersen, spokesman for the Folketing, says this is the world’s first interactive parliament role-playing game.

In Denmark, participation in parliamentary elections is high -- voter turnout in the last five elections averaged 85.6% of those eligible.

Down in the basement, it’s time to vote. The students approve sending troops to Uranium and allowing chip implants for criminals, but they reject genetic engineering of apes.