Clark County students get early taste of politics

By Frances Vanderploeg

Friday, Oct. 10, 2008 | 8:05 p.m.

Screams of 2,500 students resonated through the Henderson Pavilion and out to the parking lot Friday as Clark County teens and preteens voiced their opinions on kid-friendly issues.

Should all schools provide music and art education? Is school safety more important than student privacy in the case of student lockers? Should the U.S. end its use of the penny? Should students in kindergarten through grade 12 go to year-round schools?

These were the issues the students racked their brains over, listening to Nevada politicians wrangle with Foothill High School debate team members for the KidsVention: Democracy in Action event.

Fifth-graders and seventh-graders from around Clark County were invited to the event, which lasted the morning and allowed students to listen to both sides of four issues and vote on what should happen.

"We patterned it after a political convention without partisan politics," state Sen. Joyce Woodhouse, co-chairwoman for KidsVention, said.

In the end, the students came back saying schools should provide students with music and art education, student privacy should take precedence over school safety, the penny should stay and year-round schooling should go.

"I think it's awesome how they give us a choice," Paula Perez, 12, of Bob Miller Middle School, said. "Adults usually don't listen to us, so this was a neat change."

"It's pretty cool we're allowed to vote here, because we're not old enough yet," Savanah Zamora, 12, of Charles Silvestri Junior High School, said.

"It's interesting to be here," Madison Nilson, 10, of Dorothy Eisenberg Elementary School, said. "I was impressed with the debaters. They made me think."

This is the first time the event was held in Henderson. It's been around for about 10 years, Woodhouse said, and organizers wanted it to be larger this year because of interest in the presidential election. The pavilion seats 2,500.

One new element this year was having politicians debate the high school students. Participating were Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani debating student J.T. Hudson over schools providing music and art education; state Sen. Warren Hardy debating student Hilary Williams about school lockers; state Assemblyman Lynn Stewart debating student Aarin Kevorkian about the penny; and state Sen. Steven Horsford debating student Marina Herrera about year-round schools.

"Say it with me, 'Pool not School!'" Herrera chanted, rousing the crowd to chant with her.

Many of the students were primed for the event, discussing each of the issues in class and, in some cases, setting up their own debates. While some had their mind set before arriving at the pavilion, others said the event changed what they originally thought.

"I voted opposite here of what I did at school," Hanna Brunty, 11, of Nate Mack Elementary School, said.

One example she gave was of lockers. Originally, she thought privacy should be more important, but changed her mind after listening to the debates.

"People can get hurt," she said.

The locker issue was a much-debated issue among the students. Some thought it was important to know they were safe, while others felt it was more important to have their privacy.

"If someone told (the administrators) they saw something, I'm OK with them looking," Destiny Sampley, 12, of Jack and Terry Mannion Middle School, said. "As long as it's not just random searches."

"I'd probably vote for it as long as they're looking for something like beer, something that's really bad for you," Lena Ekman, 10, of Eisenberg, said.

"I'm against locker privacy," Savanah, of Silvestri, said. "I want to be safe at school."

After most of the debates had ended and the event was drawing to a close, students were already thinking about their future as voters. Encouraging the desire to vote was what event organizers were hoping for.

Henderson City Clerk Monica Simmons said she thought the day would stick with the students.

"Sometimes they don't really appreciate it until later down the road and a light bulb will go off," she said. "Also, these young kids can really influence their parents' involvement. If they understand the process, maybe they can share it with their parents, family or friends ... It helps them understand what creates a healthy nation and a healthy community."

While a few students said they weren't interested in voting or hadn't decided, many said they were excited to turn 18 and have the ability to make their voice heard.

"I think it's just the American way," Alec Rogers, 12, of Miller, said.

"I really want to vote," Milana Marinzulich, 10, of Charles and Phyllis Frias Elementary School, said. "We deserve the chance to be able to choose."

Her classmate, Madison Mayer, agreed.

"If I don't vote, I'm letting other people make my decisions," Madison said.

The event also instilled a newfound confidence in many of the students, some of whom dove into the topics with a fervor they didn't feel comfortable expressing in their classes, students said.

"It makes me feel important and confident in my choices," Shane Geer, 10, of Frias Elementary, said.

Frances Vanderploeg can be reached at 990-2660 or [email protected].