Teaching Kids About Voting

The students at Roberts Elementary School were dressed as everything from ninjas to Dalmatians.

It was Spirit Day and Root and Toot Cheery (played by Julie Catrambone and Bridget Potts) were coming to talk about voting.

As part of the Home & School Association’s Project Democracy program, students in the elementary schools, the Upper Elementary School and the middle school, will cast ballots on April 27.

At Roberts, the students will choose what their principal, Fred Johnson, will do on Field Day. Their options: Sing karaoke, take a turn on the Slip ’n’ Slide or get a pie the face.

At Baker, students will be picking a name for the Baker Bear, the school's mascot. At South Valley, students will be picking a new sun. Students at WAMS will vote on T-shirt designs for each grade level's end-of-year field trip. At the UES, they are still developing their question.

“Every single vote counts,” said Potts. “That is the power of your voice.”

Students will cast ballots in their districts from 3 to 9 p.m. April 27, the same day as the Board of Education election. Ballots for each of the schools will be at each voting district. High school students will man the voting tables. Polling places include Baker, Roberts, South Valley, the Upper Elementary School and the Lenola Fire Hall. The Board of Education voting will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. that day.

“We wanted it to be convenient, but not interfere,” said Amy Penwell Yallof, who chairs Project Democracy for Home & School. "The program works because we have the support of the administration, the staff and Home & School."

The program is modeled after a program in Hopewell Valley. The program, which is nonpartisan, gives students a lesson in voting. Programs like the Roberts Spirit Day are held in the district’s other schools to familiarize the students with their school’s question.

“The questions have results the kids can see,” said Yallof.

For instance, last year Baker students were able to vote on what would be painted at center court of their playground basketball court. Three hundred of Baker's 400 students voted last year. Any cost involved in the selection is paid for by Home & School. Last year, South Valley students were able to pick from three different pieces of playground equipment.

“We want to give an election experience that is similar to real voting,” said Yallof. “A lot of students who can vote for the first time don’t know what to do. This helps create a comfort with the voting process. We don’t want to lose a generation of voters.

“We want to foster a family tradition of parents and students voting together.”

And like a real election, the results will be counted election night with results available the next morning.

“It’s a fun night,” said Yallof.

High school student volunteers are needed. If interested, click here.