Greenfield Center School students learn to vote in mock election

By DIANE BRONCACCIO
Recorder Staff
10/20/2016

The Greenfield Center School candidates, “Shellizabeth Warren” and “Jill Swine.” Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

Avi Rowland-Roth, a 5th grade student at the Center School in Greenfield, explains the process for voting in their mock election Tuesday, October 18. The election's candidates were "Shellizabeth Warren" and "Jill Swine." Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt—Matt Burkhartt

Neko Bull-Cohen, a first grade student at the Center School in Greenfield checks in at the polls for their mock election Tuesday, October 18. The candidates were

Students at the Center School vote in their mock election Tuesday, October 18. The candidates were "Shellizabeth Warren" and "Jill Swine." Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

Talia Sharone, a fifth-grade student at the Center School in Greenfield, and Avi Rowland-Roth, also a fifth-grade student, count ballots during their mock election on Tuesday. “Shellizabeth Warren” was declared the new president. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

Ada Quilter, a student at the Center School in Greenfield, casts her ballot after voting in the school’s mock election Tuesday. The candidates were “Shellizabeth Warren” and “Jill Swine.” Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

Nico Fasulo, a fifth grade student at the Center School in Greenfield checks in at the polls during their school's mock election Tuesday, October 18.

Rollie Schaffer Grinwas, a 4th grade student at the Center School in Greenfield wears his “I Voted” sticker on his cowboy hat.

GREENFIELD — Talk about “early voting.”

The Greenfield Center School students have already been-there-done-that, with a mock election Tuesday between two animal puppet candidates “Shellizabeth Warren” and “Jill Swine.”

In the end, Shellizabeth the turtle became president of Greenfield Center School, by a 93-74 vote that included 141 students and 26 staff as voters.

But before the election, students met the candidates, read the respective platforms and cast their ballots in voting booths they made themselves.

Shellizabeth ran on a platform that “caring is sharing” — that students who bring toys or other things from home should be prepared to share them. Shellizabeth also wants to improve the environment by keeping the outdoor campus clean.

Jill Swine, a pig puppet, campaigned on the idea that students should have a choice of whether or not to share possessions with classmates. She also ran a “comfy classroom campaign,” that includes kindness to others and helping everyone to be part of the school community.

The names of the candidates, of course, pay homage to state Senator Elizabeth Warren and Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein.

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