The Gazette-Enterprise

They may not be able to vote for president yet, but they can vote on their favorite snack.

Navarro elementary first-graders in Ms. Angie Morales and Ms. Michelle Emmons’ class held mock elections as as they learned about the importance of the U.S. presidency and the meaning behind President’s Day.

“We talk about the responsibilities of the president, who is the president and the characteristics of a good president,” Morales said. “This helps them make the connection to what the real world is like.”

Morales also asked her students why they would be a good president, and their responses varied significantly.

Many of Morales’ students said they would make a good president because they help people or they like people.

One child said he had the “power of good,” while another said he’d make a good president because he believes in God and knows that God is watching over him.

The United States began observing President’s day in 1971 to honor the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, who were both born in February.

Morales’ first-graders were also treated to a Power Point tour of the White House by going to the White House Web site, www.whitehouse.gov .

“It was so cool,” Morales said. “They went to the red room, the green room, the Oval office. They got to see the president speak. They thought that was the coolest thing.”

Morales said some of the students have their own ideas about the office of president.

“They think the president makes a lot of money and that he’s a role model,” Morales said. “They know he lives in the White House, but they don’t necessarily know where the White House is.”

Emmons said many of her students could not differentiate between Washington, D.C., and the state of Washington.

Emmons, a second-year teacher at Navarro Elementary, uses a lot of books from many of her colleagues to teach the children about President’s Day, but she is also using money in her lessons.

“They know who George Washington is,” Emmons said. “We talk about how he was the first president and what he was like as a little boy.”

The first-graders have learned not just who was president, but what all of these men did before they were president, Morales said.

Some of the students have also written essays and completed art projects in observance of President’s Day.

They may be learning about the presidents of the past, but many have already decided it’s a job they would not want themselves.

“I have asked that question, and I have had maybe two,” Emmons said. “I thought they’d all want that job. I had one girl and one boy.”

While the students may have no desire to be the president of the United States someday, their desire to learn about the office can often be challenging to teachers like Morales and Emmons.

“Every year, I try and add a little bit more to make it more fun for them,” Morales said. “You want to make it more fun so they’ll want to learn more about the president.

Share | Save | Mail | Print | Comment

Bringing Life To Your Doorstep Since 1888

A Southern Newspapers publication.