SPRINGDALE : First lesson in democracy comes from Little Debbie
Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008
SPRINGDALE — In most political forums, candidates detail plans to balance budgets and listen to the needs of constituents.
On Tuesday, Springdale mayoral candidate Doug Sprouse revealed to elementary school students that if he’s not careful he can eat an entire box of Little Debbie snack cakes without realizing it.
“That may make me feel good today, but what’s it going to do to me tomorrow ?” he asked second- through fifth-graders in the cafeteria at Springdale’s Monitor Elementary School. “I might get sick or, at least, a little bit fatter.”
A mayor needs to approach decisions with the same restraint required around a box of tasty chocolate pastries, recognizing that today’s actions will have an impact on the future, Sprouse said.
Five other candidates for mayor joined Sprouse at the forum, each finding creative ways to explain their platforms to the children.
The forum is part of a series of lessons using local and national elections to explain democracy, Principal Maribel Childress said. Pupils also made campaign posters explaining the good qualities of their teachers and learned about the presidential election process.
Children also learned the role of city government at the forum. Candidate Nancy Deason Jenkins showed students her high school yearbook and a chart of city departments the mayor oversees.
After listening to the candidates, students will do more research and discuss preferences with their friends before voting next week in a mock election for their favorite candidate.
“It is such an honor and privilege to live in the United States of America, which is a democracy, which means I have a voice in who my leaders are,” Childress told the children.
The candidates explained the school’s monthly “character words” — friendship and loyalty — and explained why they thought they would be the best mayor, using metaphors to explain the role of mayor.
Ray Dotson explained how he would balance the city’s budget, telling the students: “It’s like when your parents balance their checkbooks. They can’t spend any more money than they make.”
Candidate Mike Overton said good mayors seek help from others.
“A mayor has to have friends to help solve our city’s problems,” he said. Candidate Jim Reed told students about living in Springdale as a child, impressed by the training of police officers and firefighters. “Communities used to look to Springdale to see how a city should be run,” he said. “That doesn’t happen as much any more.” Knowing their audience, the candidates also promised the children parks, pools and soccer fields would be a priority. But the children were stumped when candidate Ken Watson asked them who the mayor worked for. “The governor ? The president ?” they yelled. “You,” he said. “The mayor works for you.”
To contact this reporter: eblad@arkansasonline. com
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