If the votes of students in Athens County's school districts are any indication, John Kerry will be running away with the presidency.
Athens County students from 11 schools participated in the Future Voters Mock Election yesterday and chose John Kerry for president by a vote of 1,137 for Kerry and 490 for George W. Bush, said Donna Mabry, a coordinator from the League of Women Voters of Athens.
Other schools in the county will cast their mock ballots on Nov. 2.
These results were relayed to the National Student/Parent Mock Election for inclusion with the national results, which will not be finalized until Election Day.
Eager students lined up in the halls of Athens City School's Morrison Elementary, excitedly waiting for their chance to cast a secret ballot. Although the children's votes do not count toward the presidential election Nov. 2, one can hope the excitement of the experience will carry on into years of eligible voting, said Muriel Grim, co-vice president of the League of Women Voters of Athens. The League sponsored the project along with the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and the Athens Messenger. Fifth-grade social studies teacher Lynne Conroy said her students had to register to vote in advance. Students registered by homeroom precincts, she said.
The election is part of an entire unit dedicated to the government, constitution and election process, Conroy said.
Students entered the polling place, which was in a classroom, and had to sign in with fifth graders working the polls. They then picked up a ballot from another student, who directed them to the private voting booths where they could vote for their presidential candidate of choice.
Fifth-grade student Joshelyn Smith, 10, was one of several students signing people in at the polls.
I think it's cool because we get to learn how grown-ups vote
she said.
Sixth-grade teacher April Stewart said she hopes the mock election fires people up to vote.
The research her class has done on candidates, issues, positions and propaganda gives students the opportunity to take part the political process, she said.
We have some very opinionated sixth graders Stewart said. Her students seem to be most concerned about changes in education and the job market, she said.
Several of her students attended John Edwards' visit to Ohio University Sept. 15, Stewart said.
All these activities surrounding the election gave students a heads-up on issues she said.
Fourth-grade teacher Sabrina Kotts plans to take her students to Beacon School to observe the adult voting process on Nov. 2. Beacon School is a polling place located next to Morrison Elementary.
Students also have to register to vote for officers of student council, she said. The best way for the students to learn the correct process is through practice, Kotts said.
Another school participating in the election was Federal Hocking High School, where the polls were open before school, during lunch periods and after school, he said. Participation was purely voluntary, just like a real election, said Tim Arnold, government teacher at Federal Hocking High School. The goal was to make the process as realistic as possible.
Kids have to make an effort
he said. We need to get the message across that voting is important.
The high school students had the opportunity to vote for president, local officials, state officials, Issue 1 and the Federal Hocking Local School district levy and bond issue.
Federal Hocking high school senior Whitney Pesek, 17, said the process encouraged her interest in politics.
You know how the teachers lean
but they don't try to sway you
she said. Some teachers showed the presidential debates during class.
The main goal is to get you to think. They want you to make an educated choice
Pesek said.
Grim said she hopes student participation in the mock election will improve future student and parent voting.
We need to make them aware of their responsibilities as citizens. Secondly
this program may encourage parents to vote
Grim said.
The success of this project is really gratifying for us because the work we did stimulated and supported the teachers
who went beyond expected involvement, Mabry said.
