Monday, October 29, 2012
FAYETTEVILLE — Students at Ramay and Woodland junior high schools are gearing up to vote for president and mayor.
Mock elections are scheduled Thursday at Woodland and Friday at Ramay.
Mock Election
An election for educational or transformative purposes often used to give students an understanding of democracy and the role of government before they reach voting age. The experience can stimulate young people to become engaged citizens and voters.
Source: Staff Report
“It raises awareness,” said Allison Zeagler, a 14-year-old ninth-grader at Woodland. “During the next presidential election, we’ll be voting.”
Students watched the debates between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney, as well as the vice presidential debates. They are reading articles and discussing the candidates in the lunchroom and the hallways. Students in social studies and civics classes also are working on class projects, all to better understand the election process.
“The last election we were in the fifth grade. It was a big deal but not as important then,” Zeagler said. “The next four years will fly by.”
“It’s our duty because every single vote counts,” said Ayari Torres, 14, and a ninth-grader at Woodland.
The Ramay campaign is called “Ramay Rocks the Vote,” and featured Mayor Lioneld Jordan in an assembly to kick off the event.
The students are voting in the mayoral race between Jordan and former Mayor Dan Coody.
Ramay students are registering to vote during their lunch period, using actual voter registration forms. Only students who register can vote.
All Woodland students are eligible to vote and voting will be online.
Kirsten Olson, 14, and in the ninth grade at Woodland, said she is happy but nervous at the thought of voting in a real election in four years; happy to do something she has watched her parents do and nervous because of a lack of understanding about the election process.
“That’s one of the reasons we’re doing this,” said Sarah Behrend-Wilcox, 13 and in the ninth grade. “It’s important to get to know the process.”
“The process won’t be foreign to them,” said Erica Wortham, a Ramay algebra teacher and Student Council adviser.
Behrend-Wilcox said the students have made announcements and put up posters around the school. One is a picture of Principal Matt Saferite in an Uncle Sam hat, proclaiming that the school needs the students to vote.
“You are suppose to vote on who you believe in,” said Hayley Felkins, 14, and a ninth-grader at Ramay. “It’s important to vote and you don’t have a right to complain if you don’t vote.”