By Travis Reems
Filed Friday, November 3 at 1:13 PM
It’s Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and St. Louis Public Schools students will exercise their right to vote in a mock election. Students will be casting their ballots for candidates in key state and local races as well as several ballot issues.
The election is part of Kids Voting USA, a nationwide, nonpartisan program where students in grades K-12 are taught the importance of citizenship and voting.
“This is a great lesson in civics for our students,” said Superintendent Diana Bourisaw. “The program teaches the responsibilities of being an informed citizen and encourages students to acquire the voting habit,” she added.
Every school will also have at least two students to be junior poll workers, students who will oversee the election process for their school. Volunteers from several organizations, including Americorp, the Young Lawyers Division of the Missouri Bar Association, and law students from St. Louis University will also be assisting in the election process.
According to Sandy Diamond, the Director of Kids Voting Missouri, this is the third election that all St. Louis Public School students have had the opportunity to cast mock ballots. “During the 2004 elections, 64% of students in St. Louis voted. In addition to learning how to cast a ballot, the students learn valuable lessons about the roles and responsibilities of elected officials and the government,” Diamond said.
Voting results will be available on the Kids Voting website, www.kidsvotingmissouri.org, beginning late in the evening on Nov. 7. Complete results will be posted the day after election.
Kids Voting Missouri is administered by the College of Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis through its Citizenship Education program.
2 Comments:
This is a fantastic initiative. I always take my children to vote with me, as my parents did for me, and my daughter was so excited when she came home from school and could tell me she had voted herself! She showed me her voter registration card, her "I voted" sticker, and was so proud. Thanks to all who make this effort happen and instill a love of democracy in our young ones.
Friday, November 10, 2006 12:01:54 PM
My daughter got up that morning and said mom I have to vote for a demo crack or republic today. I asked her if she meant democrat and republican. Her response was yeh I think that's it. I went to school that day to help with a field trip for the 1st graders. I had a lot of students run up to me and say I voted today. When I asked who did you vote for? Most of the girls responded I voted for the girls. Most of the boys said I voted for the boy. But one little 6 year old told me she voted for the democrats. Because her mom was a democrat. Her dad was a democrat. Her whole family was democrats so she was going to be a democrat. That's too cute coming from a 6 year old.
Monday, November 13, 2006 2:12:53 PM
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