Kids' Voting Missouri, 2006

An issue at Iveland School-school uniforms

Kids at Iveland Elementary School will hold a school-wide election rally on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The school is part of the statewide Kids' Voting-Missouri, 2006, but their rally also deals with the issue of mandatory school uniforms.

Iveland Elementary is in the Ritenour School District. That was the first Missouri district to participate in Kids' Voting program back when it started in 1996.

Now, 23 St. Louis area school districts are included in Kids Voting-Missouri. In addition, Greater Kansas City districts and those in northwest and southwest Missouri take part.

This year, the Kids Voting program has added pre-election lessons in citizenship and the history of voting. Kids also learn about state, local and national candidates and issues.

On election day, kids go with their parents to polling places. While the adults cast regular ballots, the kids go to special Kids' Voting polling spots nearby to vote on the same candidates and issues.

But, at Iveland, they're taking the whole process a step further. Kids are having their own campaign on the issue of school uniforms. At the school-wide rally, results of the referendum will be announced.

(Young Saint Louis.com covers the Kids' Voting-Missouri program every two years. In November editions, we run an advance story like this one about Iveland. Then, in December, YSL.com will compare statewide Kids' Voting results with those from adult polling. Watch for the December polling comparisons.)

Carly Neal

Ten-year-old Carly Neal and 10-year-old Nadja Williams already have had personal experience in the election process. Both 5th graders ran for the student council this year.

They had different results. Carly won and Nadja didn't. But, they both learned the value of every vote in an election.

Carly ran for a student council seat and won. Then, she ran for council president and won again. Her margin of victory in the president's race was just four votes.

Nadja Williams

Asked about her campaign, Carly said, "I didn't promise anything." But, she did say she'd work for school improvements that the kids wanted.

Nadja also ran for a council seat but was defeated by just two votes.

She blamed her loss on her "stage-fright" while trying to make a campaign speech before the whole student body. "My friends voted for me but those who didn't know me were turned off by my stage-fright in the rally," she said.

Alyssa Lamb

Ten-year-old Alyssa Lamb is one of the 5th graders who will be participating in Kids' Voting at Iveland for the first time. She wasn't in the school during the 2004 campaign.

She said kids have been learning about "our duty to vote" and the democratic process. "The vote gives us power," she said.

She said she'd like to make a speech on the democratic process.

Raheem Coleman

Ten-year-old Raheem Coleman said he came to Iveland two years ago "just before the Kids' Voting." He said he remembered voting with his parents. Iveland school is one of the adult polling places on election days.

He remembered the 2004 presidential race between George W. Bush and John Kerry. He also remembered that Matt Blount won a close election for Missouri governor.

Raheem, who lives in Overland, said kids have been discussing local politics and issues. One issue that's close to home is the election of controversial Overland Mayor Ann Purzner.

In 2004, Purzner won a close election and has been battling the city council ever since.

Sawyr Cronin

Ten-year-old Sawyr Cronin said he's interested in the U.S. Senate race between incumbent Jim Talent and challenger Claire McCaskill. He said he hasn't decided whom he wants to win. "But, I'll figure it out by election day," he said.

At the school-wide rally, the kids vote totals on the Talent-McCaskill race will be announced in addition to the vote on the school uniforms.

Fifth grade teacher Adam Barnstead has been leading the Kids' Voting discussions in his classes. He said, "It's nice to hear the kids discussing adult issues. They learn there are bigger issues than just what's in their personal lives."

At the rally, kids will take part in singing of patriotic songs as well as discussing the elections. They also will hear outside speakers discuss the election issues and races.

(If you'd like to know more about the history of the Kids' Voting-Missouri program, visit www.kidsvotingmissouri.org. For national information, www.kidsvotingusa.org. )