Student Get-Out-The-Vote Drive Halted (Milwaukee,WI)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 10/28/04 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

MILWAUKEE - The superintendent of Milwaukee schools halted a get-out-the-vote program involving students after complaints were raised about its link to a pro-Kerry organization.

Superintendent William Andrekopoulos acted late Wednesday, citing a policy that prohibits the district from being a political advocate.

His decision came a day after Republicans accused Democrats of using the students for political gain because the program was organized by the Wisconsin Citizen Action Fund, whose parent organization endorsed Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) for president.

Students at 33 Milwaukee schools called voters and went door to door in minority neighborhoods and areas with historically low voter turnout, urging people to cast ballots in Tuesday's election. The young people, ranging in age from 11 to 18, often conducted the efforts during school hours.

"There were too many variables associated with canvassing for the district to manage," district spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin said. "The administration felt it had to take action to avoid the appearance of any impropriety."

Supporters said the youngsters were getting a valuable lesson in democracy and denied any partisanship, insisting the students did not wear political buttons or clothing and did not encourage people to vote one way or another.

"The students are bearing the brunt of a decision based on political pressure that is being brought on the district," said Larry Marx, co-executive director of Wisconsin Citizen Action. "This is a project that the district should be proud of."

But Chris Lato, communications director for the Wisconsin Republican Party, said the program amounted to "exploiting schoolchildren on the taxpayers' dime to conduct what is clearly a Democratic, partisan get-out-the-vote effort."

[DSBull]

This is blatant disenfranchisement of the Black Vote...Call Jesse Jackson, right away.

[BreitbartSentMe]

The young people, ranging in age from 11 to 18, often conducted the efforts during school hours.

Yea, forget all that reading & writing crap, these students really need to learn IMPORTANT stuff, like political activism.

[MediaMole]

Yet, the Elizabeth Edwards event on Wednesday, October 27 was held in a Milwaukee Public Schools facility.

[PMCarey]

Supporters said the youngsters were getting a valuable lesson in democracy and denied any partisanship, insisting the students did not wear political buttons or clothing and did not encourage people to vote one way or another.

Of course the GOTV effort was only in heavily Democratic areas, so if the impact is partisan even if the leaflets might not be. When I was kid we learned about the Democracy by having mock campaigns and elections within the school. What's wrong with that?

[Arrowhead1952]

Students at 33 Milwaukee schools called voters and went door to door in minority neighborhoods and areas with historically low voter turnout, urging people to cast ballots in Tuesday's election. The young people, ranging in age from 11 to 18, often conducted the efforts during school hours.

What is wrong with this picture????? Did they get to come back to school and eat their "free" government lunch as well? I thought schools were meant to teach kids the 3 R's.

[flashbunny]

There's nothing wrong with mock elections and campaigns within the school.

There's something very wrong when you have public school students, on public school time, working for an organization that has endorsed one candidate (kerry in this case) helping that organization get out the vote.

It's like the teachers were providing volunteers for a pro-kerry group on the taxpayer's dime.

[gnarledmaw]

"I thought schools were meant to teach kids the 3 R's."

Schools are. You are confusing schools with government indoctrination facilities as was intended by those who misappropriated the term "school".

Look here to start:"Teacher of the Year" Warns: Public Schools Destroy Democracy.