joe harman's eighth graders are just a few weeks in, and they're already learning just how importanto, who has the balance of power? >> democrats. >> democrats. >> so that's why there is a lot of attention to pennsylvania. >> reporter: dr. harman says his goal is not to influence how these future pennsylvania voters actually vote. he instead wants them to understand the process and simply get them interested in civic participation. >> i've known you a couple of years now. >> yes. >> i already knew that you found civics to be incredibly important. i would imagine that you only find it more important these days. >> it's been a lot easier to teach, especially since 2016 with these candidates that have become more out there and prominent and maybe popular. maybe the best word to use. so it seems the kids, students are more engaged. there is definitely more opinions floating out and around there. so it's made my job easier because they're more interested in the processes and the candidates and what's happening in the country in general. >> right. and the kids here already have a sense of