High schoolers plan to participate
in upcoming primary elections
Rockbridge County High School’s social studies program is preparing young voters to participate in Virginia’s presidential primary Feb. 12.
About 50 students, some still only 17 years old, registered to vote this year.
Deborah Weddle, head of the social studies department at RCHS, said students are excited to get to play a role in the presidential election. Weddle said she has tried to teach them that it takes only one vote to make a difference.
State law allows 17-year-olds to vote in primaries as long as they will turn 18 by the date of the general election, which this year is Nov. 4.
“If they are able to vote, they should,” Weddle said. “If more people voted, results would be different.”
Government teacher Emily Higgins said the curriculum for her class is geared toward students’ civic responsibility.
“We have discussed the issues that affect their lives,” she said.
The curriculum covers federal and state voting laws, public policy, interest groups, and the political spectrum, she said.
Higgins said one project was particularly helpful to new voters. The students researched the platforms of each presidential candidate in the race since May and created visual aids to show their peers.
Higgins also showed her class clips from news media and debates to spur class discussions. She said she has been pleasantly surprised by how engaged and opinionated the students are.
The students follow mainstream candidates, she said, but are more interested in other candidates, such as Republican candidate Ron Paul.
“The liveliest discussions have centered around Ron Paul and his Libertarian views,” she said.
Weddle said she was a little disappointed with the number of registered juniors, saying she had only three in her class who registered in time for the primary.
“Many didn't realize that if they will be 18 before the election in November that they were actually eligible,” she said, “and now it is too late to register.”
Otherwise, Weddle said, she is excited for the students. This first presidential election will be a valuable lesson for them, she said.
“To learn that they can have a voice in government, to get a feel for it, to get into the practice of being aware and taking action, that’s really important,” Weddle said.
Produced by
Washington and Lee
journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
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Prof. Phylissa
Mitchell
Editing supervisor:
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