THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 29, 1996 TAG: 9610290278
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 87 lines
People who dismiss this year's presidential election with a yawn should have been at Northside Middle School on Monday.
Students became presidential contenders, and in a mock debate let fly a few zingers worthy of prime time: Bill Clinton, a k a eighth-grader Nathan Smith, told Bob Dole to ``click his heels and go back to Kansas.''
Mr. Dole, played by eighth-grader Phillip Meents, accused Clinton of bringing ``scandals, secrets and lies'' to the White House, and invited Clinton to ``get back on the train to Arkansas.''
For that Ross Perot look, seventh-grader Joe Teders placed tape behind his ears to make them stick out. His views were equally Perotian: The economy, he said, was in ``such a mess'' that nothing short of ``total reconstruction'' would suffice. It's that simple.
While they're not old enough to run for office or elect anybody, the seventh- and eighth-graders definitely could talk the talk.
As part of a new education program called Kids Voting, the students are young recruits in the country's ongoing experiment in democracy, which some commentators say is being undermined by apathy, low voter turnout and an uninformed citizenry. Only about 55 percent of eligible U.S. voters turned out for the 1992 presidential election; only 20 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds voted.
Students in all Norfolk and in five Virginia Beach schools are involved in the nationwide effort to teach schoolchildren civic responsibility with hands-on lessons that include debates, campaign poster-making, mock voting and homework that encourages dinner-table political discussions with parents.
To get children in the habit of voting, students participating in the program can accompany their parents to the polls Nov. 5 and cast ballots in special booths set up for them.
``Our goal is to get kids excited so they'll pressure their parents to go out and vote,'' said Northside social studies teacher Varinda Daniels.
Three Arizona businessmen launched Kids Voting in 1988 after a fishing trip to Costa Rica, where voter turnout is 90 percent, attributed to a tradition of children visiting the polls with parents. Voter turnout has increased as much as 9 percent in some communities with Kids Voting, testament to children's ability to influence their parents' behavior.
``I can't think of any stronger message for this election. We are voting for these children, and that's what it's all about,'' said Ann Washington, voter registrar in Norfolk, which is making voting machines available for youngsters.
And what have Northside students learned as a result of the debate and other Kids Voting activities?
``How hard it is to give people what they want,'' said seventh-grader Patrick Lang, who portrayed Vice President Al Gore.
``I've learned a lot about how the political process works and how the candidates fell about the issues,'' said Meents.
``I know what a deficit is,'' added Heather Young, who portrayed the wife of Pat Choate, Perot's running mate.
To gather material for their speeches, the students scoured newspapers and magazines and were required to watch the two real presidential debates. They talked about tax cuts, budget balancing, drug trafficking, health care and trust.
The rally featured students portraying the vice-presidential contenders, the candidates' wives and children, and stone-faced Secret Service ``agents'' in dark shades. There were balloons, political posters and an orchestra playing patriotic tunes.
Students heard from a few real politicians, who were suitably impressed: U.S. Rep. Owen Pickett, state Del. Thelma Drake and state Sen. Yvonne Miller.
``If you don't vote,'' Pickett said, ``you're allowing someone else to make the selection for you.''
Amid raucous cheers from a clearly Democratic-leaning audience, school officials announced that Bill Clinton won by a landslide in a mock election students held last week: 506 votes to Dole's 271. U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner also won handily over the incumbent, Republican John Warner, 331 votes to 185. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photos]
BILL TIERNAN photos
The Virginian-Pilot
John Sharkey, left, and Lynda Sexton, 13, gathered with classmates
Monday at Northside Middle School for a political rally, complete
with pint-sized candidates pitching their platforms.
As Ross Perot, 12-year-old Joe Teders told his audience that the
economy was a ``mess.'' His look was as authentic as his message -
tape held his ears in just the right position.
KEYWORDS: STUDENT ELECTIONS CIVICS by CNB