Our Schools
Students to vote in mock election
Students and teachers in the West Orange – Cove CISD 21st Century Afterschool Centers on Education program will be participating in an on-line mock election in late October, voting for/against amendments and other issues that will appear in state/national elections.
Students will use a state-of-the art online voting system as they participate in a mock election program sponsored by the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI), a national civic education program based at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. With hundreds of thousands of students expected to vote nationwide during the two-week voting period from October 19-October 29, the YLI Mock Election is the largest secure, student-only online mock election in the nation.
“We are so pleased to be able to offer our students this opportunity to experience how voters make a difference in a democratic society. This mock election affords us the opportunity to discuss not only issues that will impact us; but also why voting is important, how voting can impact the local community, and also how civic engagement involves voting, but also other activities such as becoming informed and /or campaigning as well. This is an excellent exercise in responsible citizenship,” Deborah Mitchell, Coordinator of the 21st Century ACE program, said.
A national research study conducted by University of Virginia Center for Politics Director Larry J. Sabato and Chief of Staff Ken Stroupe found conclusively that new and innovative methods of civic education can succeed where prior methods have proven inadequate.
According to Stroupe, “the apathy of today’s generation toward politics is a symptom of society’s neglect of civic education.” However, he adds that “aside from parental influence at home, schools present the best opportunity to reverse the negative impression that young people have of the American political process.”
The study shows that the instructional components of the Youth Leadership Initiative can have a positive impact on students, and Stroupe found that “students in classes where teachers used the political participation exercises and the lesson plans of the mock election reported a higher tendency towards future political participation.”
On Nov. 3, Texas will consider 11 constitutional amendments. Students will consider these same amendments in their on-line mock election.
- Our Schools
-
-
Marched!
Orangefield Elementary Kindergarten students “Marched” out of February on a patriotic note.
-
Pine Forest assists Relay for Life with special kiss
Teachers and staff at Pine Forest Elementary in Vidor raised $300 for the American Cancer Society and Orange County’s Relay for Life through a “Kiss the Pig” fundraising contest.
-
WO-S students sweep machining skills contest
West Orange-Stark High School Career Center precision machining students swept the SkillsUSA District Meet and also won Best-of-Show project honors.
- VHS Mock Trial team claims third
-
VISD spelling bee winners announced
-
BC Strutters take honors at Kilgore College
-
Students at MVE hold pet food drive
-
LC-M Locks of Love
-
OHS students compete in Cypress Challenge
-
St. Mary’s students celebrate Catholic School Week
- More Our Schools Headlines
-
