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It is titled “I will give you ice cream” and it comes from a third grade teacher from Nashville, TN

Who worries about “the cow” when it is all about the “Ice Cream”

She reports that the most eye-opening civics lesson she had was while teaching a third grade class this year. The Presidential election was heating up and some of the students showed an interest.

She decided that the class would have an election for class president. They would choose the nominees. They would have a campaign and the class would vote. To simplify the process, the candidates were nominated by other class members. They discussed what kinds of characteristics the student candidates should have. There were several 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 though Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support. She had never seen Olivia’s mother.

The day arrived when the candidates 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. He sat down and Olivia came to the podium. 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 could say more, but 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 the ice cream, Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a landslide.

Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth, he offered iced cream, and fifty-two percent of he people reacted like none year olds. They wanted ice cream. The other forty-eight percent of us know we’re going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess.

That is your civics lesson for the day!