Student vote at Land O'Lakes PS

Apr 28, 2011

Photo:Party leaders at LOLPS l-r Shay Melanson, Naomi Mitchel, Ophelia Cooper, Jacob Brash and Cody Matson

Students at Land O'Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove will be casting their ballots at a school-wide election on April 28. The election is part of the Canadian National Student Vote program, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that “aims to build the capacity and commitment of young Canadians to participate in their democracy”. The program introduces students to the electoral process and invites them to hold and run their own mock elections, which coincide with actual elections. This is the first time the program has run at Land O' Lakes, and judging by the enthusiasm of the students, it looks as though the program is accomplishing its goals.

Teachers Mr. Guntensperger and Ms. Fournier organized the mock election, which they felt fit in nicely with the social studies curriculum. “The program helps to build political awareness and also allows the students to become familiar with the national issues,” Norm Guntensperger said at the all-candidates’ meeting that took place in the school gym on April 20.

The program began a few weeks ago and older students in grades 4-8 first researched the platforms of the various parties as they were released in the media. Next, students were invited to form leadership teams representing the four major parties, and each team was assigned a teacher facilitator.

“There was great participation right from the start. The students are really excited about the whole process and the fact that we will be having real, official printed ballots, boxes and voting stations is really exciting,” Mr. Guntensperger said.

Each team appointed speakers for their party and those leaders took to the stage in the gym and presented their platforms to the students. The platforms closely mirrored those of their real counterparts, as did the questions students posed to the leaders, which covered a wide range of topics, including climate change, the national deficit, the long gun registry, defense spending and the current war in Libya.

Norm Guntensperger said it has been interesting to watch the entire process unfold. “Last week the Green Party seemed to be taking the lead but after the meeting in the gym it became very clear that the NDP Party had gained the upper hand.”

Students are encouraged to keep an open mind as the parties unfold their platforms. The campaigns have been respectful and the leaders are campaigning fairly. Only one off-putting incident, involving a marshmallow launcher, has been reported to date. “The students are doing a lot better than the actual parties in that regard,” Guntensperger said.

After the meeting, I asked the student party leaders what they learned from the process. Ophelia Cooper, who was representing the Conservative party said, “It was interesting to learn about all of the programs that the Conservatives are offering and how they are planning to lower taxes. I also learned that it’s a pretty good idea to keep your vote private unless you are willing to stand up for what you believe in.”

Naomi Mitchel, who was representing the Green party said, “I knew that the Green party was concerned with environment but that was about it. I definitely know a lot more about the party now.”

NDP leader, Cody Matson, said, “After looking at all of the parties, I felt the NDP would be the way to go.”

All of the student leaders said the experience has led them to believe that they might one day become involved in politics. Asked what qualities make a good politician, they replied: “Somebody who is nice”; “someone who cares about the economy and the environment”; “someone who is good with words”; and lastly “someone who will keep the promises that they make.”

The school’s election results will be announced on April 28.