NPMS holds mock election

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Last week, students at North Putnam Middle School had an opportunity to make their voices heard by voting in a mock election.

The students spent much of October learning about the election process. They studied election systems and party initiatives. Through the lessons the students analyzed candidates, their platforms and the Nov. 4 election.

Part of the process included a forum hosted by the sixth grade classes featuring District 44 State Representative opponents Nancy Michael and Amos Thomas.

Sixth grade students Ben Hazelgrove and Allan Skillern represented Barack Obama and John McCain during the political forum.

"I wanted to do something significant to get kids feeling like they are involved in the process. This was a great way to bring the candidates and the election to their doorstep," said teacher Ron Price.

Topics covered during the forum abortion, raising the age for driver licenses, good paying jobs, drugs and child support.

Michael and Thomas answered questions just like they have done at other debates and forums around the state.

Skillern as Obama spoke about green house gas effects, the 3.5 billion acres set aside for protection plus giving the schools $750 million in funds.

Hazelgrove standing in for McCain, talked of middle class families, reducing oil from other countries, developing other oil sources, making healthcare affordable and getting the troops out of Iraq.

Students then were given the opportunity to register to vote followed by a mock election.

NPMS students voted in Obama over McCain 220 to 155. Governor Mitch Daniels won with a vote of 256 to 104 over Jill Long Thompson and Nancy Michael was the favorite beating out Amos Thomas with a vote of 217 to 157.

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