Schools

A touch of democracy

Student Council elections hit the big time at West Zephyrhills Elementary, with touch screen voting and televised speeches.

By MICHELE MILLER, Times Staff Writer
Published September 26, 2007

Fifth-grader Willie Jackson, 11, uses a touch screen voting machine to cast his ballot for Student Council at West Zephyrhills Elementary School.
	[ZACH BOYDEN-HOLMES | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [ZACH BOYDEN-HOLMES | Times] The kids vote for Student Council president on the same machines that their parents use to vote for the president of the United States, and they get the same stickers.

ZEPHYRHILLS

It was Student Council election time at West Zephyrhills Elementary School, and that had kids lining up last week to cast their votes just like the grownups do.

It was a good turnout for those in grades 3-5 who voted in school elections using touch screen voting machines provided by the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections. Most everyone showed up.

At the end of the day, a slate of four officers, all girls, were elected, along with 20 classroom representatives.

The results:

President: Sarah Duffy, 10.

Vice president: Elizabeth Howard, 11

Treasurer: Kelsey Barrett, 9.

Secretary: Stephanie Clark, 9.

So how to get elected?

Putting markers to poster board, and writing and recording one-minute persuasive speeches to be shown on the school news are all part of the democratic process for those in the running.

According to Sarah, name recognition certainly helps.

"A lot of people knew me from last year because I ran for vice president and won," she said.

You also need a slogan such as "If you want to get things done, Sarah's the one."

And you have to have some good ideas to pitch.

On Sarah's list?

1. Hosting a sleepover lock-in for those who have met their goals in the Accelerated Reading program. "That way, students would be like, 'I want to read more!' "

2. Having a talent show so kids could show off some of their skills.

3. Getting a school pet, possibly a guinea pig.

"That would show students responsibility," Sarah said. Being the caretaker of three guinea pigs - Ginger, Jack and Delilah - she would know about that. Still, that idea still has to be presented to the principal, Emily Keene, for approval.

There's also some more serious stuff in store. The Student Council might be continuing with some community service projects held last year, such as raising money for cancer research for Relay for Life, holiday activities at the nearby Zephyr Haven Nursing Home and planting flowers in the school butterfly garden with their neighbors in the Betmar Acres Mobile Home Park's Garden Club.

Student Council elections are a good way for students to learn about the political process, said Dr. Valerie Macleod, who with fellow guidance counselor Jennifer Asaro serves as Student Council sponsor.

"This is a good hands-on experience that gives them a way of knowing what their parents vote for and the importance of how every vote counts," Macleod said.

Before the election, teachers held classroom discussions on the election process.

And while adults wanted to let the election unfold as it should they still laid down a few rules.

"We didn't allow the kids (running for office) to hand out candy or stuff like that," Asaro said. "And we warned them about making promises they couldn't keep."

So, who won?

West Zephyrhills Elementary School's new officers, left, came out on top in recent elections.

Sarah is president, Elizabeth is vice president, Kelsey is treasurer and Stephanie is secretary. Twenty classroom reps were also elected.

Fast facts

On the Web

Want to know more about voting and the election process? Check out the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Web site: www.pascovotes.com. Click on "Kids' Corner." There you will find a variety of educational games and the opportunity to weigh in on a special monthly election. This month's vote is on your favorite vegetable. Check in after Oct. 1 to see the results.

[Last modified September 25, 2007, 20:16:18]