Opposing sophomore ‘presidential candidates’ battled out in Ms. Baumann’s government class debate over topics regarding the minimum wage, gun laws, education, and other controversial issues that our country faces today.
Sophomores across all honors government classes are assigned the Mock Election project, where they collaborate in groups led by their chosen presidential candidate, and prepare their own political party, platform, website, and advertisements for the general election. Students then debate over key issues brought up in their platforms and present their advertisements and attack ads.
“This was one of the projects that I’ve enjoyed the most this year… It was really fun. It’s helped me understand the concepts that we’re learning in class,” said sophomore Salaar Baig, a winner of the primary election in Ms. Baumann’s third period class.
Ms. Baumann simulates both a primary and general election for her classes. Each class holds a popular vote, and the winning candidate of each section is selected to represent their class period in the general election, where they face the other winning candidates to win the ultimate title of President, along with a donut party for their group.
“All of the honors government teachers really want to make our content ‘come alive’ for students, and simulations are a great way to do that, as they allow students to actually put into practice the concepts we have been learning in class,” said honors government teacher Ms. Baumann.
Like the real U.S. presidential elections, there are many steps that each party must take before the primary and general elections to win the majority vote. One of the most lengthy assignments that parties are tasked with is creating a Google site including their platform, slogan, candidate’s biography, campaign ads, and social media profiles.
“The most fun part about the project was probably filming the ads, but it was difficult getting all aspects of the website finished in time,” said sophomore Austin Grisard, primary election winner in Ms. Baumann’s sixth period class.
7th period class winners, Luca Mucci and the ‘Demo-crat Demo-nstrate’ Party, were the only group in their class to make an attack ad.
“I think that making an attack ad helped [us win the primary], because we chose to be unique and make a different kind of advertisement than everyone else,” Mucci said.
Each political party was required to research key issues to shape their platforms. Students considered views from both sides of current politics, and structured their responses based on their research and personal experiences.
Baig, whose family was struck with a substantial number of medical bills after his mother’s cancer diagnosis, shaped his platform around fixing the healthcare system because of his personal experiences.
“I know there are many Americans who struggle with the same thing, which is wrong, when, in other countries, families don’t have to deal with that,” Baig said.
Grisard explained how he and the ‘Patriot Party’ shaped their platform around finding a middle ground for issues such as gun rights, the economy, space exploration, and energy.
“We tried to put ideas from the two opposing parties together to find a compromise for controversial issues, which I think helped us win the primary,” Grisard said.
With 2024 being a prime election year for Virginia with the Senate, House of Representatives, and Presidential elections occurring at the same time, some students took inspiration from candidates in those elections.
“Two of our main advertisements fit the style of those of Harris’, our platform on the 2nd amendment and the economy was inspired by the Republican party, and our platform on energy was influenced by both,” said Grisard.
All candidates had major takeaways from their experience that changed their perspective on politics and educated them about the government.
Mucci explained how the project piqued an interest in politics for him that he hadn’t had before.
“I never really liked politics; it was always too controversial for me. Now, I’m getting more interested in it and understanding it better,” Mucci said.
“My goal is for my students to better understand the work required to run a presidential campaign and all the steps in the process. And, I want my students to enjoy some friendly competition amongst each other and between classes,” said Ms. Baumann.
