fwd: 3rd Grade Civics Lesson

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This is great!! Too bad it's true.



The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third
grade in 2000. The presidential election was heating up and some of
the children showed an interest. I decided we would have an election
for a class president. We would choose our nominees. They would make
a campaign speech and the class would vote.



To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other
class members. We discussed what kinds of characteristics these
students should have. We got many nominations and from those, Jamie
and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.



The class had done a great job in their selections. Both
candidates were good kids. I thought Jamie might have an advantage
because he got lots of parental support. I had never seen Olivia's
mother. The day arrived when they were to make their speeches Jamie
went first. He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better
place. He ended by promising to do his very best. Every one
applauded. He sat down and Olivia came to the podium. Her speech was
concise. She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice
cream." She sat down. The class went wild. "Yes! Yes! We want ice
cream."



She surely would say more. She did not have to. A
discussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the ice cream? She
wasn't sure. Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it.
She didn't know. The class really didn't care. All they were thinking
about was ic e cream. Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a land slide.



Every time Barack Obama opens his mouth he offers ice cream,
and fifty percent of America reacts like nine year olds. They want ice
cream. The other fifty percent know they're going to have to feed the
cow.

3 comments:

SJT said...

So when 50% of American elected George W Bush in 2004, they were sensible, patriotic thinking citizens. When 50% elect a Democrat they are greedy vapid 9 year olds.

Anonymous said...

From my experience in these mock class elections, there is no way you would ever have a boy and a girl running against each other. It was always, for me, two girls. (And I am skeptical that if it were a boy and a girl, that the girl would offer the ice cream. This sounds like a twisted HRC meme.)

BrianX said...

You know, I hope I'm not giving Obama too much credit to say that when he offers to make ice cream, that he assumes we're grownup enough to realize that the materials will have to be paid for. Or am I just being a coastal elitist?

 
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