Comments on: What Kids Learned from the 2008 US Election

By: Caroline

Caroline — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:53:33 +0000

I understand this comment is late in coming, but this discussion seems to be ongoing. Anyways, just a point on the mudsling campaigns – of course nobody likes it, conversely of course everybody thinks it works (maybe it does?)… but I’m not about to refuse my vote for someone who agrees with me on the issues just because they play mean. Unfortunately, that very thing is what has happened with the “moral” vote, people care only how the candidate stands with moral issues, completely disregarding their stance on foreign policy, economic issues, education, energy, trade, etc etc etc etc… life is way to complex these days to allow yourself to be narrowed down to one issue. Although it is simpler, it is not necessarily reflective of the true democratic route we should be engaged in.

By: Michelle Baldwin

Michelle Baldwin — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:23:06 +0000

@Josh You’re right… but I think we can still control what WE say and do in public forums. We don’t need to trash the opposing candidates in order to support the ones we like. And that’s what I have been seeing in blogs and tweets from educators.

If the politicians continue to mud-sling, fine. We really can’t control it… but we don’t need to follow suit, especially since kids are watching us more than they watch the politicians.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:32:55 +0000

You said it yourself: It was equal opportunity bashing. So who do you plan on voting for? It’s not like we can’t vote. We tried that the last 20 years and we are still in the same spot. We cannot change it until a politician with legit ideas runs a positive campaign. They have to step up.

By: Michelle Baldwin

Michelle Baldwin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:37:36 +0000

@Deanna

Exactly. As a parent and teacher, I’ve learned (the hard way) about how my actions speak louder than words. I think a lot of people missed the boat in teaching kids about how great democracy is, because they were too busy trashing the other guy who disagreed with their opinions/beliefs.

By: Michelle Baldwin

Michelle Baldwin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:31:55 +0000

@Josh Oh… and just because I disagree with your comment doesn’t mean I dislike you in anyway, or think badly of you. I won’t trash you on Twitter because I disagreed with your thoughts (and I don’t remember you doing any of that either).

By: Deanna

Deanna — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:31:01 +0000

You make some great points! Twitter was a little harsh on some evenings and still can be even without the election. I think we all struggle, just like kids, with the idea that who and what we type doesn’t affect others since we can’t see their face. This is a great opportunity to remind others that what we say and write digitally affects others! thx for sharing!

By: Michelle Baldwin

Michelle Baldwin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:29:57 +0000

Sorry, Josh, but I disagree. Mudslinging from candidates is par for the course, even though we don’t like it. The only way we can stop that is to quit voting for politicians who run negative campaigns.

What we CAN control, though, is what WE say and do… and the kids are watching.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:18:06 +0000

I’m not trying to copout, but I think it starts with the candidates. How they run their campaign is our their supporters will act. One local politician was surprised that some of our govt students really didn’t like his personal negative attacks on the other candidate. While he “felt bad,” he said that they continue because “it works.” No one has the cajones to step up and run a legit campaign without throwing some mud. It’s not like we can vote for someone based off of how they run their campaign…but I guess they all run it the same way anyway…