From a teacher in the Nashville area
"We are worried about "the cow"
when it is all about the "Ice Cream"
The most eye-opening civics
lesson I ever had was while teaching
third grade this year. The presidential
election was heating up and
some of the children showed an interest.
I decided we would have an
election for a class president.
We would choose our nominees.
They would make a campaign speech
and the class would vote.
To simplify the process, candidates
were nominated by other class
members. We discussed what kinds
of characteristics these students
should have. We got many nominations
and from those, Jamie and Olivia
were picked to run for the top spot.
The class had done a great
job in their selections. Both
candidates were good kids. I thought
Jamie might have an advantage because
he got lots of parental support.
I had never seen Olivia's mother.
The day arrived when they
were to make their speeches.
Jamie went first.
He had specific ideas about
how to make our class a better
place. He ended by promising to
do his very best.
Everyone applauded and
he sat down.
Now is was Olivia's turn to speak.
Her speech was concise.
She said, "If you will vote for me, I will
give you ice cream." She sat down.
The class went wild. "Yes! Yes! We
want ice cream."
She surely would say more.
She did not have to. A discussion
followed. How did she plan to
pay for the ice cream? She wasn't sure.
Would her parents buy it or would
the class pay for it. She didn't
know. The class really didn't care.
All they were thinking about was
ice cream.
Jamie was forgotten.
Olivia won by a landslide.
Every time Barack Obama opened
his mouth he offered ice cream and
52 percent of the people reacted
like nine year olds. They want
ice cream.
The other 48 percent know
they're going to have to
feed the cow and clean
up the mess."
