Students at Flamson want to see voter turnout improve
Flamson MIddle School Spanish immersion students hold posters they made for an eighth grade history project. The students are actively trying to increase voter participation for the Nov. 4 election. Photo by Heather Young
Eighth graders appalled at how many people don’t voice what they want
Flamson Middle School eighth grader Michelle Nucico holds a brochure made by the students. Photo by Heather Young
Spanish immersion students at Flamson Middle School are learning a whole host of skills this fall while they encourage those of voting age to not only register to vote, but to get out and make an informed decision at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 4. The students are in Celia Moses’ eighth grade history class.
As they learned about the Revolutionary War, they began talking about the right to vote and Moses showed the students photos of people waiting in long lines. She asked the students what they’d wait in such a long line for and they students automatically listed off a number of different material things. Moses said the students were surprised to learn that people would wait in long lines just to cast their votes.
Part of the Common Core practice is to bring in many different skills into each lesson. So not only are the students learning about history, but they’re working in groups, learning how to work together and how each person affects the group’s dynamics, as well as presenting to a group.
“What I explain to them is when you grow up, your boss is going to give you a project and tell you to complete it,” Moses said.
“This project — we all are in different groups,” eighth-grade Michelle Nucico added. “We’re trying to get the word out to vote. We’re going downtown and handing out fliers.” The students have also gone to football games to educate people on the importance of voting.
After weeks of learning how to work together, Moses presented this project to them and they are surveying family members and friends to find out if they vote and if not, why not? In addition, they have been doing research on the history of voting, as well as gathering statistics.
Flamson MIddle School students but together this poster based on the research they have done. Photo by Heather Young
“They’re excited, they’re motivated,” Moses said. “I’ve never seen so many kids here at lunch.”
The students have made signs both in English and Spanish with information that they have learned, and just encouraging people to vote — and to register to vote. The students found out through their research that many people tried to vote in 2012, but were not registered. The deadline to register is Oct. 20. (Editor’s note: This paragraph has been updated to omit incorrect information.)
“I think a lot of people take their right to vote for granted,” eighth-grader Esther Cabello said.
Seventh-grader Abigail Garcia said that more people in America vote for American Idol contestants than in elections. Eighth-grade Natalia Delgado added that voting is important because Thomas Jefferson won by one vote and the race that John F. Kennedy got elected president was very close.
“I think one of the reasons people don’t vote is because they don’t comprehend how [their vote matters],” eighth-grader Devin Hartley said.
Not only have the students done research and gone out to spread the word about voting, but they also have asked their parents to spread the word on Facebook and other social media platforms, and have contacted various new media sources including Ellen and Oprah.
“I think we’re not only working to improve voting now, but in the future,” Cabello said. “If children find out now, they’ll be more interested in voting [when they are old enough].”
Flamson Middle School eighth grade history students stand with their teacher, Celia Moses, in front of the poster they made compiling some of their research on voter turnout. Photo by Heather Young
