Election Fever Spread Throughout Region 15 With Lessons in Civics for Grades K through 12

Election fever spread throughout Region 15 as teachers presented creative lessons in civics to students in grades kindergarten through twelve.

 Prior to Election Day on Tuesday, November 7^th, staff and students at Gainfield Elementary School (GES) held a mock election for the 2006 Connecticut State Senate and Governors races.  Voting was the culmination of a unit in 5^th grade Social Studies on the three branches of government.

Under the leadership of their teachers Nancy Clement and Susan Fishman, along with student teacher, Jennifer Southard, fifth graders researched the candidates and wrote essays comparing issues and platforms. The students then visited each classroom in the school to read their essays.

“They never tell students who is the better candidate or which one to vote for,” explains Mrs. Fishman.  “They only provide information, to inform the GES student body.”

 Fishman said they also invite members of the Registrar's Office into the classroom to discuss voting procedures, share voided registration forms and samples of the inside of the voting booth.

Fifth graders then made mock voter registration cards and Election Day posters for their candidates, which added to the patriotic décor of the polling place in the GES cafeteria.

 On the school’s simulated Election Day, 5th grade students manned the polls by signing in registered voters and assisting them at the election booths.  All GES staff members and students in grades K through five took part in the voting process. 

Equipped with two color coded poker chips, everyone took their turn stepping behind the curtain to cast a private vote in their gubernatorial and senatorial candidates’ box.

When the results of the GES election were tabulated, fiction imitated reality as CT Governor Jodi Rell was deemed the victor with 338 votes out of 523 and Joe Lieberman, running as an independent, held his Senate seat with 292 votes.

“This was a really cool lesson,” said 5^th grade student, Alicia B..  “It was a great experience to actually vote and not have to wait until I get older to do it for real.”

But, the lessons within the district didn’t end there.  At Memorial Middle School (MMS), 8^th grade U.S. History Teacher, Mr. Karl Buckley, discussed with students, the balance of power in the House and Senate as well as key battle ground seats which could turn it.

“Following the elections,” said Mr. Buckley, “we discuss any interesting races, surprises and national implications of a majority shift.”

MMS, 7^th grade History teacher, John Griffin sent his students on an Election Scavenger Hunt, asking them to provide five different election-related news items such as articles about the candidates, photographs of candidates, an editorial cartoon, an editorial about a candidate as well as the date, time and source of a radio or television ad for a candidate.

Fellow MMS History Teacher, Eric Gottfried, has included candidate and election information in his “Daily History Whiz Lesson” with 8^th grade students, since the beginning of the school year.   “The kids have been very receptive to this,” he said, “and rather than test them on the election facts, they completed a poster project, touting the pros and cons of the various candidates.”

Thirty Pomperaug High School (PHS) students from Abe Allen’s Social Studies classes, worked at the polls in Southbury on Election Day in four hour shifts.”  This is part of a program we’ve featured for the past few years with JoAnn Bolin, the Registrar of Voters,” explained Mr. Allen.  “Students have an opportunity to be involved in the civic process at its basic level.”

According to Mr. Allen, PHS has an active speakers program and Alan Schlesinger, Chris Murphy and Mary Glassman recently addressed the students and responded to questions.

“I think it’s important for young people to understand the election process and be informed,” said PHS AP Government student, Ashley V. who assisted voters at the polls.  “It’s important for everyone to participate in the Democratic process and I’m happy to be a part of it.”