Goodrich-Most middle school students will have to wait until the 2016 presidential election before they can cast a ballot. But when they do, at least one area teacher says they will be prepared.
For more than 500 middle school students, the Barack Obama vs.John McCain presidential race will be decided next week in a mock election coordinated by middle school teacher Krista Bethke. While all middle school students will cast ballots for president, about 120 eighth grade students spent the last month debating the candidates and ballot proposals.
‘We’ve studied a lot of government and the election process. Now when the students go to the polls, they are educated voters,? said Bethke. ‘I’ve encouraged parents to get involved and discuss the proposals, along with the candidates in the November election.?
‘In the class we had the McCain and Obama supporters and then the ‘tweeners,? those undecided,? she said. ‘When we started talking about the election, Obama was in the lead’then it went to McCain after more information came out.?
Bethke speculates that changes in affiliation came after discussion with parents or the students learned more about the candidates and decided for themselves.
‘Voter education for students is about a third in class, a third media, and a third parents. At age 13, students are all about freedoms and less government restrictions, so they follow the party that they feel will provide that.?
Bethke said that students are very perceptive of the female vote’the McCain-Palin ticket was dubbed a way to get Hillary Clinton’s votes.
‘Race was never an issue in this election,? she said. ‘The students were concerned, however, with the safety of Obama and possible assassination attempts.?
The results of the middle school presidential election will be in the next edition of The Citizen.