Teaching kids to vote
Two experts in municipal elections visited Nottawasaga and Creemore Public School to find out what the kids would vote for if they could.
Earlier this month, Pamela Fettes, Director of Legislative Services/Municipal Clerk, and Brenda Falls, Deputy Clerk, discussed the importance of voting in municipal elections with the Grade 5 students in Jennifer Elliott’s classroom.
“They are very engaged,” said Fettes. “You would be surprised by how much they know about what goes on in their community.”
Fettes and Falls also conducted a mock election with the students.
Four students in the class were chosen to “run” for election. Each “candidate” developed a platform for improving the community and asked their classmates to support them.
Candidate number one said that if he were elected, he would build another ice rink at the Creemore Arena, improve the dressing rooms and lobby, and set up a hockey shop.
Candidate number two thought that a swimming pool would bring more people to Clearview.
Candidate number three proposed increasing the size of the Creemore branch of the Clearview Public Library to include a Teen Zone, homework room, computer centre and rooms for rent.
The fourth candidate wanted to upgrade the parks with bicycle trails, a splash pad, volleyball courts, soccer fields, an area for ball hockey and two basketball nets.
This candidate also said he would make improvements to the baseball diamond and build a food court.
“[The students] did an amazing job,” said Fettes. “Not surprisingly, their suggestions focused on sports and the library – places where kids are.”
To simulate a real, grown-up election, Fettes and Falls gave each child a paper ballot to fill out behind a privacy screen, before dropping it into the ballot box.
Next, the votes were read out and counted in front of everyone by a student who was selected specifically for the task.
The candidate with great plans for the Arena came out ahead. “We had a lot of hockey players and figure skaters in the class,” explained Fettes.
In a discussion about the importance of voting, the students said that voting gives people a voice and leads to important decision-making in the community.
They also felt that voters must believe in the people they elect.
As well, the Grade 5 students addressed the role of the School Board Trustee in making decisions about schools such as theirs, and safety.
Fettes hopes that children will take the “voting is important” message home to their parents in preparation of fall’s municipal election.
“At the end of the visit we asked them to name three things to say to parents about voting,” she said. “We are hoping this will lead to conversations between children and their parents.”
Fettes plans to hold mock elections at New Lowell Central School, Nottawa Elementary School and Stayner Collegiate Institute. She last visited NCPS in October 2013 during Local Government Week and is hoping to return again in the fall.
Pictured on home page: Pamela Fettes and Brenda Falls.
