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Advice for ParentsWhat did I do this summer? Campaign
By Leanna Landsmann
Q: Carter, my middle-school son, is very excited about the election. He
worked in our state primary with his uncle and wants to volunteer through November.
He is reading for the first time without prodding! Do you think he could get extra
credit for his campaign experience? We'd like to make the most of it; plus it
could be good for his college application.
A: Carter knows how to grab an
interesting opportunity and run with it. Working on a political campaign can offer
any young person some great "real-world learning" with goals and tight
deadlines without worrying about a grade. He'll be a more confident reader, writer,
speaker and organizer as a result of his experience. He may also meet adults who
can mentor him and serve as references in the years ahead. "Working
in a campaign could make a meaty interdisciplinary extra-credit project,"
agrees social studies educator Gail Hennessey, adjunct professor at SUNY Cortland,
N.Y. "Approach his social studies, history or language arts teacher. The
teachers might ask him to describe how things work at a local campaign headquarters,
ask people their thoughts on the issues, interview local candidates on policy
and even create his own political opinion poll and chart the results." Since
school is out, you may have trouble reaching the teachers, so prepare to make
the case in the fall. It will help them if you have your son record the types
of activities he's involved with.
"He doesn't have to write down every
task, but he should describe the role he plays in the larger picture of the campaign,
resume style. For example: verified addresses for voter mailing; mapped out campaign
canvassing routes using internet, did daily online media searches for mention
of candidate's views and positions, and so on. Keep photos, campaign materials
and other documentation, if possible. His teachers may want him to do a presentation
to fellow students." As for college, sure, the experience could add
a bit of luster to the application though it's a few years away. Ask someone in
the campaign to write a letter that describes your son's involvement so he could
use it when the time comes. Don't make the academic credit the be-all and
end-all, though, says Hennessey. "Carter has pursued a topic of interest
without prodding. Rather than focus on the grade, take the opportunity to discuss
how important it is to find interests and stick with them for the passion they
create in us, rather than the carrot of a grade at the end." One important
way for to deepen this experience for Carter is to encourage him to share it with
you, says Hennessey. "Discover websites together, talk about political coverage
in the papers, on the web, and on the local and national news. Watch C-Span's
Road to the White House programming. Do 'debriefs' with him when he gets home
from the campaign headquarters. Show him how proud you are of what he's learning,
and what he's teaching you." What can you do together? "For a
great family activity, purchase a large map of the United States and place pins
representing each of the candidates in the states each time they visit during
the campaign. Discuss which states have the most and least visits and what types
of places the candidates speak at," suggests Hennessey. For another
activity, Hennessey suggests creating a survey (or use the one at the website
below) on the candidates' positions and have family and friends see whether the
candidate they support is the one that truly stands for their stated issues. Track
the electoral map, taking the role of political analyst to determine the needed
states to reach the magic number of 270. Carter might want to create a
Facebook group or make a video advertisement for his candidate and upload it to
You Tube. Hennessey will post election-related activities for middle-school students
this summer and fall on her website, gailhennessey.com. Hennessey
suggests exploring these websites with your son:
-- archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/index.html
--
270towin.com (to track the
electoral map)
-- usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/candidate-match-game.htm
(survey to match candidates and issues) Do you have a question about your
child's education? E-mail it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com.
Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher.
She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe
best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City. Copyright
2008, United Feature Syndicate, Inc. A-PLUS ADVICE FOR PARENTS 6-30-08 Submission
inquiries? Contact Stacey Pusey at 856-241-7772. | 
