Posted on 10/20/2004 7:25:40 AM PDT by areafiftyone
NEW YORK, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Scholastic, the global children's publishing and media company, today announced the results of the 2004 Scholastic Election Poll, an educational activity that gives children too young to go to the polls themselves the opportunity to participate in the political process. More than half a million students in first through eighth grades from across the country participated in the poll, choosing George W. Bush as the next President of the United States.
Since 1940, Scholastic Classroom Magazines have given students the opportunity to cast their vote for president in the Scholastic Election Poll (online voting was added in 2000). In every election, but two, the outcome of the Scholastic Election Poll mirrored the outcome of the general election.
The exceptions were in 1948 when students chose Thomas E. Dewey over Harry S. Truman and in 1960 when more students voted for Richard M. Nixon than John F. Kennedy. In 2000, student voters chose George W. Bush, mirroring the Electoral College result but not the result of the popular vote.
In the 2004 Scholastic Election Poll, George W. Bush received 52 percent of the votes and the Democratic contender, John F. Kerry, received 47 percent. Rounding out the vote, 1 percent of students voted for other candidates.
Results from key swing states are as follows:
* Florida and Ohio were a near tie between President Bush and Senator Kerry.
* President Bush received 57 percent of the student vote in Pennsylvania.
* Senator Kerry received 58 percent of the student vote in New Hampshire.
"Teachers rely on Scholastic Classroom Magazines and Scholastic News Online for articles on the latest news from the campaign trail and to help students learn about how our nation elects its leaders. The Scholastic Election Poll is a fun way for students to apply their knowledge of the candidates and the electoral process and to get young children excited about politics so they'll grow up to be active, well-informed citizens and future voters," said Rebecca Bondor, Editor in Chief, Scholastic Classroom Magazines.
Students from across the country voted through mail-in paper ballots found in many of Scholastic Classroom Magazines, including Scholastic News(R) and Junior Scholastic(R) beginning in September and online at Scholastic News Online (http://www.scholastic.com/news) from mid-July to October 18, 2004.
The Scholastic Election Poll is not based on a scientifically designed sample of the student population. It is designed as an educational activity to encourage student thought and debate, and to give students an opportunity to express their opinions. The respondents are self-selected, based on teachers who want their classes to participate and students who want to participate individually.
Scholastic is a leading publisher of educational magazines with 34 publications for grades PreK-12, reaching over 25 million students and teachers across the country. Teachers rely on these publications to enhance instruction in such subjects as science, reading and language arts, math, social studies, current events, history, geography, world languages, and art. Scholastic News Online (http://www.scholastic.com/news), the magazines' online companion gives teachers, students and parents an additional resource with which to learn about and discuss current events in the classroom and at home.
Scholastic Corporation (Nasdaq: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school- based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, http://www.scholastic.com.
WHEW!! All is not lost.
Thanks! I've been waiting for these results.
And Laura Bush won the cookie campaign!
Isn't amazing the children are smarter than liberals?
Let's hope Americans are as smart as these kids!
LOL Fat chance! At least 50% are not! ;-)
Looks like the pro-Kerry propaganda they are subject to is not taking completely.
I'm serious when I say I've been waiting to see this. It was a comfort in 2000.
More Good News!
The kids probably voted the way their parents will. Bttt.
Listen folks, kids parrot there parents and are completely honest. You may write this poll of as silly. but it has only been wrong twice in 64 years! It's pretty damn hard to argue with that kind of consistency and accuracy....any poll you can name to rival that????
Yes it is a comfort. These kids are very good at predicting election outcomes!
If you subtract the dead voting in Cook County Ill., the students were probably right.
Hopefully, the students' votes mirrored their parents' votes!
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BTW my son's 5th grade class in liberal dem country of LA voted overwhelmingly for Bush.
Actually I don't think its silly at all. Every presidential election I look forward to this poll! :-)
I have faith in our youth.
Harry Potter ping
You nailed it.
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