Eighth Graders (Mock) Debate Election Issues

Foreign policy, energy independence and health care were soundly debated on the Greenhills stage Friday by 10 eighth graders.

Through the integrated public speaking program, students in eighth grade civics were asked to learn more about presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. Students spent two weeks researching the candidates’ policies on a variety of issues such as immigration, taxes and education. Students then wrote a persuasive speech where they explained the problem surrounding an issue of their choice and then advocated for the policy of one candidate. As students listened to the speeches in class, the goal was to become an informed citizen prior to voting in the mock election at Greenhills on November 6.

“I learned that there are always two sides to every issue,” said Julian Wellman ’16.

Ten students (Mitchell Gajar, Hailey Mandel, Ali Schulte, Max Froelich, David Rubin, Madeline Parks, Libby Reeves, Tema Cohen, Anya Nayak, and Julian Wellman) were invited to share portions of their speeches on Friday.

After the assembly, Ali Schulte said, “I would have been terrified to speak at an assembly when I first came to Greenhills, but now I’m less nervous and more confident.”