Sunrise Elementary parents split on holding classes on election days

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | Tuesday, January 14, 2003 | Bob Stiles

[Willie Green]

Parents responding to a survey split almost evenly on whether to conduct classes the same day as elections at Sunrise Elementary School, a Penn-Trafford School District official said Monday.

After last night's school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Joseph Marasti reviewed findings of a survey conducted by members of the school's Parent-Teacher Association. The results also were shared with the school board.

[justshe]

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[RonF]

Kids should go to school on Election Day. However, every lesson should be on elections and the electoral process. History could cover the different types of elections. English could study essays on how elections evolved and opinions of the process. Math could study statistical analysis of both pre- and post-election polls, how different kinds of sampling work, and how different. Social studies could look at how different ethnic/religious/economic groups respond to participating in elections, or the voting patterns of 1st vs. 2nd vs. 3rd generation immigrants. Science could look at how different technological issues have affected elections (Kennedy vs. Nixon debates?).

[RonF]

Re: statistics and math:

"how different kinds of sampling and questions can/have skewed the results of polls vs. elections - also what the sampling error number means."

[Willie Green]

Kids should go to school on Election Day. However, every lesson should be on elections and the electoral process.

I suppose the actual lesson content would depend on the age of the students. But in general, I think the benefits of utilizing schools as a polling location outweigh security concerns provided a reasonable temporary barrier can be erected so that one function doesn't interfere with the other. If nothing else, the change in daily routine will allow the children to witness firsthand responsible adults exercising their right to vote. It's a good example that goes beyond what can be taught in the classroom out of a book.

[hsmomx3]

Stupid!!! (Not you, the parents.) It only takes a few minutes to vote so why would they want kids out of school that day? Besides, it's you and I who would be paying for a worthless "holiday" for the govt. schools. And so we get get ripped off once again.

[JenB]

This school is where I voted. They had an entrance set up for voters to come in, a temporary barrier to keep the voters out of the rest of the school, and the voting machinery in the library. That's really not much to ask. I suppose there could be some potential problems during the times when kids are getting on and off the buses, though, but... well, it's a very small precinct, I went at six last year and was only the 400-somethingth voter.