'Students Vote' educates and interests would-be voters

Teacher Tyler Redler had his students at St. Gabriel School in Regina looking at the candidates running for the office of mayor and ward councillor ahead of Wednesday's election. 

Together, the class broke down the promises of each candidate's campaign platforms, dissecting what they like and dislike.

Ryan Farris is one of 30 students who participated in a Students Vote exercise aimed at getting young minds interested and caring about politics. 

The classroom discussion spills over into the playground and at home too. 

Farris said he and his parents have had some discussions — not debates, he emphasizes — where it's a back-and-forth between he and his parents educating one another.

Playground talk

Redler said he has overheard children on the playground talking about candidates after a social class.

"It's awesome," Redler said. "Just yesterday, in preparing for this, I asked the students 'who went home and talked to their parents about politics' and out of a class about 30, 10 kids put their hands up."

"When you get 13 and 14 year olds going home and talking about candidates, that's a win as a teacher." 

Redler said the class held their Student Vote on Monday and had a 98 per cent turnout in the class.

One student voted in advance because she wouldn't be there the day the vote was held. The other student was away for a few weeks and asked if she could have an extra day to research the candidates before she cast her ballot, Redler said. 

What the students say

"I've learned not all of them are perfect," Farris said as he discussed the candidates and their platforms. 

Even if Farris can't drive yet, he likes the idea of fixing the streets.

"It's good for our city. It's healthy. We must make new choices," Farris said.

Students from Saint Dominic Savio Elementary were also part of the exercise and weighed in with their thoughts.

Saint Dominic student Aleah Bachiu said good roads, healthcare and being treated fairly and kindly are some of the things that are important to her if she voted.

"I think it's important to vote because then everybody gets a say in what they want for their country and what they want for their city," Bachiu said. 

More parks and outdoor spaces for soccer are important to teammates Ryan Switzer and Jackson Grace, two Grade 5 students at Saint Dominic.

"If you're an informed voter, it's important because it's not a popularity race like who has the most signs in your ward. It's important to read what they're really interested in so when election comes, you don't just pick a random person," said Switzer.

"Don't ask your mom which one to pick, you have to make your own decision," Grace added.

Redler hopes the exercise will have a lasting impact on his students and those who participated.

"As the students get older, the world is changing and hopefully they continue to be interested in politics."