REGION: Students play presidential candidates in debates

Southwest County schools holding mock elections, forums

By RANI GUPTA - Staff Writer | Tuesday, October 14, 2008 3:10 PM PDT ∞

It's easy to see how comedian Tina Fey could play Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live."

Not so much with Alex Roth.

The 18-year-old high school senior is, after all, male. And blond.

Watch the video

Yet, on Monday morning, Roth was taking questions from an Elsinore High School history class while acting as the Republican vice presidential candidate, explaining Palin's position on health care and detailing her experience as governor of Alaska.

Roth is one of six students playing the parts of the presidential and vice presidential candidates, as well as the potential first ladies, in advance of a schoolwide debate and vote at the Wildomar school.

Roth researched his role by watching debates, visiting John McCain's Web site and visiting the local Republican headquarters. He admits he gets some questions about playing the part of a female candidate, but has an easy answer.

"I just remind them that Obama is being played by a woman," he said, referring to junior Sarah Ash, 16.

That debate is one of several events being held at Southwest County schools to connect students with the upcoming presidential election.

At Elsinore High, the same six students have been holding mock debates in social studies classes, with the opposing candidates appearing behind podiums bearing their campaign posters.

Teacher Randy Shultz said he picked the best students to play the parts, regardless of their gender. The students are not impersonating the candidates, but posing as them to explain their positions.

The students will hold a schoolwide debate during lunch Nov. 3 and on Election Day, students will vote for president in their classrooms in a process designed to mimic the Electoral College.

Separate classes will represent each state and the District of Columbia, with larger classes acting as larger states such as California. The winner in each class will receive the electoral votes of that "state," and the schoolwide winner will be announced that day.

Shultz said the process helps students see how, for instance, George W. Bush became president in 2000 while losing the popular vote.

"It's critical for them to understand," he said.

During Monday's class, the students playing the candidates and their wives fielded questions from fellow students on the candidates' positions regarding health care, abortion, immigration and the Iraq war. They also made clear that they had watched a few debates themselves.

Senior Paolo Leveratto, 17, playing McCain, and Ash, playing Obama, made sure to thank their classmates for their "great" questions and acknowledge their teachers for hosting the debate.

"Thank you, Elsinore High School," Ash said. "Thank you, America."

Even some younger students will get in on the action. When adult voters cast their ballots Nov. 4, students will be doing the same at Shivela Middle School in Murrieta and Cottonwood Canyon Elementary in Lake Elsinore.

"I think it's a great way for students to learn about the responsibility of democracy," said teacher Christopher Ryan, who is organizing the mock vote at Shivela.

Social studies classes will bring their classes to vote for president, where Ryan's drama students will act as station managers and ballot counters. All counts will be triple-checked before results are announced.

Ryan said students at the school have shown interest in this year's election.

"It's funny because many times a student reflects their parents' vote," he said, "but because of the media coverage of this election, the students have really gotten a chance to get an idea of what the candidates are representing."

At Cottonwood, teacher Kristi Johnson said, students will check in at desks whwere their names are listed, just as adults do at polling places. They will receive their ballots, which will include the candidates' names only for the older students and pictures and names for the younger ones. Students will leave with American flag stickers to indicate they voted.

"I want to make it as realistic as possible for them," Johnson said, "and hopefully when they are of age, they'll remember that they did this before and be more comfortable when they do it for real."

Another presidential debate is scheduled at Temecula Valley High School on Oct. 22 featuring about a dozen students each on the Republican and Democratic sides. Students will field questions on their candidates' positions toward Supreme Court nominees, gay marriage, legalizing marijuana, financing education and lowering the drinking age to 18.

Afterward, students watching the debate will receive instructions on how to vote online.

"We want the community to know kids do care about more than just MTV," teacher Jeff Waugh said. "And even the 14-year-olds need to be aware of what's going on because in a very short time, they'll be out there paying taxes and voting."

For the first time, the debate participants come largely from new student Republican and Democratic clubs that have recently formed on campus.

Senior Sara Dotson, president of the Republican club, said it's crucial that students make their voices heard in the election. She said members have been working to register students who are old enough to vote.

"I can't vote myself, but there's no reason I can't encourage others to," said Dotson, 17.

While the members from the two clubs might have different political views, members say they share a common goal of informing students. Sameera Salari, a 17-year-old senior active in the Democratic club, said the two groups work well together and refrain from any partisan bickering.

"We see enough of that from our own politicians," she said. "We don't need to do it here."

Contact staff writer Rani Gupta at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2625, or rgupta@californian.com.