Anyone can name the Republican and Democratic parties' candidates for president, but what about third-party candidates?

Any student who watched "Channel One" Tuesday heard about the other candidates in the first segment of the 12-minute news program - if they paid attention.

"OK guys. Listen up. I can barely hear from here," Century High School teacher Mary Palmer said.

She stood a few feet away from the television. The chatter of the students quieted. It didn't change how many students paid attention.

Less than half the students were watching. Most students were talking and a few were studying for a test. Some students weren't even in the room because they were collecting recycling.

"We really like 'Channel One,'" Palmer said. "The hard part is getting kids to listen."

The Bismarck School Board and school administrators question whether the 15 minutes set aside during the school day for "Channel One" could be put to a different use.

"Some like it, but it becomes a study hall," board member Dan Kuntz said. "If we find a better use of that time, I'm sure we're well past the contract obligation."

The district, however, does not know where its copy of the contract is located. "Channel One" has been shown in two Bismarck middle schools and both high schools since the early '90s. Horizon Middle School does not show it, and they do not know how that fits with the contract.

The program is available to schools through satellite. When districts, like Bismarck, agreed to show it, the company gave the district free wall-mounted televisions and video cassette recorders in each classroom. There is no cost to the district.

The company could take back the equipment if schools stopped showing it. Some districts that have stopped it still have the equipment, said Superintendent Paul Johnson at the Bismarck School Board meeting earlier this month.

Some administrators and teachers want to keep the program in the schools, while others would rather ditch it for extra training time, tutoring time or lengthening class times.

"We'd use it differently," CHS principal Mike Heilman said. "Everybody has suggestions."

His staff is talking about lengthening class periods to 52 or 53 minutes, using it for tutoring time or using it as an advisement period, among other options, he said.

At one point, classes were 55 minutes and passing periods were seven minutes. Over the years, it changed to 50-minute classes and four-minute passing periods, Palmer said.

Some students would rather see "Channel One" stopped and have the school day end earlier.

"That'd be fine, as long as they don't use it for class time," CHS junior Cameron Van Beek said, when considering no more "Channel One."

He watches the evening news before "Wheel of Fortune," he said. Instead, he'd like the school day to end earlier so that he has more time for work, sports and other activities.

"I just talk," during the show, junior Michael Frenzel said.

When the pop quiz, comes on, though, he and Van Beek pay attention. They shout out answers, along with a few others in class. The question, asked by cable sitcom actors, asked about the family classification of dogs. Answer: Canidae.

Since it began, people have questioned the commercial content of the news program; there are two commercial breaks during the show. During the first commercial break Tuesday, students were told which band's music was featured on the show and saw advertisements for the military, a video game and a Major League Baseball community outreach program. Over the years other advertisers have included shoe companies and student exchange programs.

Besides the segment on third-party presidential candidates, they also had segments on China's economy, a study on the effects of technology on family and the World Series.

Palmer is torn on whether to keep it. She sees how some of it can be useful to students, and it gives a small break in the day when students can get organized. But she'd like to have the extra classtime as well.

"It's amazing how five minutes makes a difference," she said.

After taking attendance, giving announcements and accepting papers, she's left with 45 minutes to teach a lesson, she said. Many students tune out about five minutes before class ends as they pack their bags and get ready to go to the next class, which gives her about 40 minutes of their full attention.

In the meantime, the district will find the copy of its contract and decide how to proceed.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@bismarcktribune.com.)