If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Video of 2008 Presidential Debate and Election (mock)
This is one of the many reasons why I love living and teaching in the DR. The original article and video can be found HERE on my blog. - RHM
"The Political Science Club at my school recently conducted an election simulation. Each of the three major Dominican presidential candidates (Leonel Fernandez, Miguel Vargas, Amable Aristy) were represented by students who campaigned and debated the issues. The finale was a school-wide election (pre-k through 12th graders voted). This video is a brief overview of the work that went into the project. The election results are at the end. Can you guess who won? Who came in second? Third?"
This is one of the many reasons why I love living and teaching in the DR. The original article and video can be found HERE on my blog. - RHM
"The Political Science Club at my school recently conducted an election simulation. Each of the three major Dominican presidential candidates (Leonel Fernandez, Miguel Vargas, Amable Aristy) were represented by students who campaigned and debated the issues. The finale was a school-wide election (pre-k through 12th graders voted). This video is a brief overview of the work that went into the project. The election results are at the end. Can you guess who won? Who came in second? Third?"
Do you think your students "got" it? Do you think they internalized the process and the value system and the net worth of the election? It looks like you went through a lot to do this and there should be more teachers doing work like this.
Do you think your students "got" it? Do you think they internalized the process and the value system and the net worth of the election? It looks like you went through a lot to do this and there should be more teachers doing work like this.
Yeah, they definately "got it" and did a fantastic job throughout. Those pictures and video were taken over a 5 week period. You're right, it's a lot of work but well worth the payoff.
I think those final numbers reflect how much smarter the students are compared to the country as a whole
What was the main reason MVP received such a low vote?
Excellent question. We are now going through our anonymous post-election surveys to determine the factors that influenced their decisions (debate performance, issues, family's affiliation etc.). Should I post that info. once we have the summary?
Were the candidates allowed to use the standard campaigning methods - i.e. did "Aristy" hand out chickens and piglets, did Leonel hand out cash, promise contracts and botellas, did MVM hand out RD$2,000 vouchers that can only be cashed in if he wins? - or did they campaign on ideology/proposals alone?
This is how a democracy develops. You are doing outstanding work to develop young minds in the democratic process and their right to form their own opinions.
In watching the local cable channels who send out their roving reporters asking people who's going to win and whom they are going to vote for I have seen most people tell their preferences, a few refuse to answer, a couple have said they don't have cedulas and ONE.....ONE...said "it's a secret ballot".
I think a non scientific indicator of the gradually developing democracy here is the declining level of violence here in the last three or four elections.
Were the candidates allowed to use the standard campaigning methods - i.e. did "Aristy" hand out chickens and piglets, did Leonel hand out cash, promise contracts and botellas, did MVM hand out RD$2,000 vouchers that can only be cashed in if he wins? - or did they campaign on ideology/proposals alone?
Look closely in the video. You can see "Amable" throwing candy from the balcony.
I'll post the results summary after we've sifted through all of the surveys.
Thanks for all the great feedback. I'll pass it along to the Political Science Club.
The reasons are all over the place. Some voted for their candidate because of family affiliations, some in response to their debate performance, and some because of the gifts. Just like real life. Lots of different reasons.