Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2006 > November > 07 > Entry
Take your child to vote day
There’s two things I hope you’ll do today. The first thing is I hope you vote. The second is I hope you’ll take your children with you to the polls, let them watch while you vote and talk to them about who you’re voting for and why.
That’s my plan this morning. Think of it as a one-on-one civics lesson. It’s really our best hope for intelligent, engaged citizens in the future, that they learn from adults around them that political participation is an important duty, a thoughtful exercise and that it actually can be exciting and fun.
The first election I really remember getting fired up about was 1980. I really liked John Anderson, the Republican who ran for president as an independent against Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. I was just hitting my teens then. Once I decided he was my favorite, I actually rode my bike downtown to his local headquarters and volunteered, passing out bumper stickers and literature in town.
I think I liked Anderson because he wasn’t Jimmy Carter or Ronald Reagan. He was sensibly middle of the road and, perhaps because he was an independent with virtually no chance of winning, he spoke his mind while the two party candidates stuck to a careful script.
My parents tried to explain that while they liked Anderson’s ideas but were afraid to waste their votes on a candidate with no chance in a close election. My dad showed me a political cartoon of a guy flipping a coin. The caption said, “Heads I vote for Reagan. Tails I vote for Carter. If the coin lands on its side, I’ll vote Anderson.” I didn’t think it was funny.
I was so naive that I was really disappointed as I watched the returns come in on T.V. that night and Anderson was getting trounced. I began rooting for him to at least get one electoral vote. He didn’t.
Still, I learned a lot from that experience and most of all, it sparked my interest in politics, news and world events. Perhaps it was even a first step toward a career in journalism. But it all started with parents who engaged me in their political discussions and encouraged me to think for myself about the issues.
(Image credit: University of Tennessee libraries)
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Schools and Politics
Comments
By proud mom
November 7, 2006 4:39 PM | Link to this
My children are currently 19, 17, and 14 years of age. Out of necessity as a stay-at-home mom for 10 years they accompanied me numerous times to the polls while I voted. Today, I am proud to say that my oldest daughter called me today to proudly tell me that she, too, voted and encouraged a couple of her peers to also go to the polls. I’m confident that my two younger children will follow suite when they are old enough to cast their own vote. Children to learn to watching and doing and both mom and dad can instill the importance of being a participating American by exercising the right to vote.