When does democracy begin? In the United States, children experience democracy starting in the first grade.
Through participation in group activities, American students are immersed in democratic principles such as choice, consensus, and freedom of expression from an early age.
In elementary schools, teachers and students make decisions at the beginning of the school year about classroom policies that everyone will follow, such as:
• Be kind to other students.
• Raise your hand and wait your turn to speak.
• Do your homework.
• Sometimes, they vote to have a rotating class leader. This person has fun tasks, such as the right to choose the book the class reads during story time or the game they will play at recess.
As they progress to high school, American students experience more democracy by participating in elections for the student council. Students campaign and compete annually for positions that mirror those of a democratic government (president, vice president, treasurer, etc.).
Candidates typically give campaign speeches during a school assembly. Campaign promises can range from improving the school cafeteria food to changing the school mascot.
After the elections, candidates who receive the majority of votes form the new student government. They are tasked with representing the interests of all students on campus, even those who did not vote for them. They meet with school authorities and advocate for ways to improve life on campus.
Jenna Cumpston, a fifth-grade student in Kentucky, promised to get a new school playground when she ran for the student council presidency. She won the election. With leadership and teamwork, the school raised nearly $70,000 from local businesses and community partners to build a new playground.
Jenna was inspired to make a positive and lasting change in her elementary school. “My sister, she’s there,” Jenna explained to the Daily Independent. “I want her to have something when I leave, and I want everyone to enjoy it.”
Some other examples of student councils in action:
• In California, a group of elementary school students in 2019 convinced the mayor to install new streetlights and sidewalks to help students walk safely to and from school.
• In Arizona, a student council donates food baskets, books, and games to low-income families every year. For the Thanksgiving holiday in 2021, they donated 38 baskets and over $3,000 in gift cards.
• In Florida, 15-year-old student council president Mahoro Amani, in 2021, pushed the school to provide free menstrual products in school bathrooms.
• Across the United States, student councils create a positive impact on campus and in their communities. They raise their voices and inspire activism. They influence local governments to adapt and consider new policies. And they learn democratic values to guide their careers after graduation.
In the United States, democracy begins in the classroom.
Source: share.america.gov, By Amirah Ismail