October 21, 2016 at 4:55 p.m.
Zion students hold simulated election
Children make their choice for president, favorite hot lunch
Zion students hold simulated election
By Kayla Thomason-
The children learned about the voting process and cast ballots for Donald Trump/Mike Pence, Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine or write-in candidates. They also voted on which of their teachers, newlyweds Jake and Hillary Geidel, will be duct taped to the wall if the school's food drive goal is met, and they voted on which hot lunch meal they like best.
"We're kind of picking on (the Geidels) because our food drive is a fun thing to do and we do it because want to help the community at the Rhinelander Food Pantry, but we want the kids to know what they give means something for the people who need it and they can have a little fun, too," said teacher Deborah Treder.
In order for the "winning" teacher to be taped to the wall, the students must raise 2,000 pounds of food. The taping will occur Nov. 22 during the school's Thanksgiving feast, if the goal is reached.
This is the first time the school has held a mock election at the school itself. The last time the simulation was held at the Newbold Town Hall.
Newbold town clerk Kim Gauthier organized the simulation.
Many of the teachers thought it was important for the students to learn about voting as it won't be long before the future of the country will be in their hands.
"This particular election year has been very different in a lot of ways but I think bringing it down to what it was meant to be at the beginning of our country and our constitution and the rights that we have as Americans is important," Treder said.
Liesel Fiebke, a fourth-grader, enjoyed the experience. Her favorite part was voting for a teacher to be duct taped to the wall. She chose Mr. Geidel.
"It was fun," she said. "When you grow up you're going to have to know about it and you can't just walk in and know nothing," she added.
Liesel's classmate, Camilla Gruett, a third-grader, felt the weight of choosing the next president of the United States.
"I think that it would be a lot of pressure because you're actually choosing the real president for the next four years or eight," she said. "I really liked the part where we went on the machine (to vote for our favorite lunch), I thought that was really fun," she said.
Vicki Humann, kindergarten teacher, said most of her students were excited to vote but she had one who was reluctant to pick his favorite hot lunch. I said 'Well, that's OK you don't have to eat it, you just have to pick what would be your favorite meal,'" Humann said.
She thought it was very important for the students to experience mock voting.
"I think it's very important that they get an idea of what our election process is like and the importance of electing good leaders for our country and even for our city, state," she said.
The kindergarteners got pamphlets from Scholastic, which informed them about the election process, the first president, the current one, where the president lives, etc.
Humann conducted an informal poll in the class as to which candidate they preferred for president, and some of the responses were quite amusing, she said.
"'I'm voting for the lady because she has a pretty necklace," said one child. "She has a pretty smile," said another.
"At the kindergarten level we didn't get into the issues," she added.
Humann said she hopes all who are eligible will exercise their right to vote Nov. 8 and was happy to give her students their first taste of the voting booth.
"I really firmly believe in the election process and I think it's good we teach the kids what's involved with an election," she said.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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