CASAA

question:

Our election assembly has become a real carnival with the funniest or most outrageous presentation usually getting the most votes. This is not a reflection of the best campaign, as some candidates do nothing all week and then make a big splash at the full-school assembly. I think that the assembly and creativity is important, but how do we get away from the candidate winning who has the goofiest campaign manager or video?

answer:

Separate your campaign week into two parts. I explain that the co-presidents at our school must be  able to be creative, and they must be able to be formal. If they are elected, they are creative for their fellow students and must often be formal for staff or members in the community. The creative/fun part should happen on the candidates' own time. Our school gives each of the four candidates a complete lunch period to run games, videos or give away free cookies if they wish. We support them with AV or staging or whatever they require only if they have booked it in advance (demonstrating organisational skills). They must find a way to get their support team organized and they must attract attention to their campaign.

     The assembly, which happens on the morning of voting day, is the formal aspect of their campaign. They are expected to dress for the occasion and speak to the school in a formal manner. They have been given this time to address a captive audience (the whole school) and have done nothing to get them there--this has been arranged for them, so they play by the rules set out for them. The student audience is reminded of the two roles that the co-presidents must play and this is the time to judge their formal "face". This process gets away from the craziest presentation winning an election for a weak candidate.

Dave C.

question:

My 5th grade daughter is a straight A student, very well liked and just a great kid. She has just petitioned 50 names to run in an election for her school's student council - as President. This school just opened this year, but our entire neighborhood makes up the student body. I have never run for anything before so I really don't know how to help her with an election speech. Do you have any examples? We only have 4 months left in the school year, (she goes to middle school next year) so what should she focus on for contributing to the school? And how would she go about doing this? I am so excited for her that she is motivated and inspired, I just need to know how to direct her efforts and offer her the proper support. Whatever you can give me would be great. - Thanks

answer:

I really think that the grade level is difficult to build a platform on that really makes sense to her peers. Elections are popularity contests, but that doesn't mean that popular people shouldn't be competent.  What has she done that would show to her peers that she is the person for the job? I would recommend baking chocolate chip cookies all by herself and then distributing them to the students. Is this a bribe? You bet! BUT, she then can stress that she was the one who made the cookies all by herself, she was the one who made the fun for all of them. Make their vote count! Vote for the Jr. Miss Fields!

Dave C.

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question:        election q16

I’m student council president at my school here in Boston. Lately I have noticed a large amount of people telling me they will not be voting for me next year. I finally asked one person why and they said because I was acting as if my new title was something special; and that I was snobby. I don’t think this is true at all. Please give me advice on how to improve my image and get the student body back on my side.

Thankx!!

With love...

Elle Marsalea

crazydanzer87@yahoo.com

answer:

Well u can start by being nice to just anyone, smile in the hall way don’t make it look like its fake make it seem like you're having fun. If you are in the hall with just someone ask him or her how they are doing or just a good morning will do. When u have conversations with other ppl make sure u don’t talk about urself much...(i know its hard) but after everyone gets use to the new u , u can start changing little by little to the old uv if u want

verenice

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question:        election q15

First of all I want to tell you that I think CASAA is a great web page. This year I will be the president of my student council. Election at our school is mostly about popularity and once the candidates are elected, they tend to get lazy and we end up accomplishing very little. This year I am making it my personal goal to try and actually get things done. How can I motivate my peers?

answer:

People are motivated when they have ownership or see something that can provide some benefit to them either directly or indirectly.

One of the problems with student leaders is that they hate group projects. They learn this early in elementary school as working in groups means that you do ALL the work if you want it done right. When you join a student leadership group, you tend to find the same thing. One way to break this paradigm of behaviour is to have students responsible for one specific event a semester. This means that if you have 15 members on your student council, you have 30 events happening in the year. Your peers will be motivated when they have ownership -- they are the person in charge who is receiving some direct benefit.

If you make it YOUR personal goal to try and actually get things done, YOU will be doing all the work. You will be successful, but very stressed and tired by the end of the year.

It's challenging, but your peers will get things done when they have something to do.

Enjoy.

Dave C.

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question:        election q14

I’m running for head student at my secondary school. But, instead of being chosen by student vote, the Head students are selected by a panel of teachers and students. I’m in dire need of some advice on what to say in the interviews given and on how i should come across please reply a.s.a.p

John K (NZ)

johnnnk@hotmail.com

answer:

Your interviewers are looking for two things. They want to know what you have done in the past and what do you propose to do in the upcoming year. Those things that YOU have done should be examples where you were in charge or you showed initiative to get something done. Did people place you in charge or did you rise to the occasion?

The things you propose for the upcoming year must be what your school needs, but they must be within your abilities and time. The world loves dreamers, but they select practical people who get things done. Show confidence in your abilities rather than superiority and you will make believers out of them.

Dave C.

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question:        election q13

What is a catchy slogan for a campaign that i can use if i were to run for president?

Diane Douglas

FlameGrl02@aol.com

answer:

A catchy slogan is "Vote for me for President because I want a better parking spot!"

Steve

I’m running for 6th grade president

Chad

orlandovp1@aol.com

when i ran for asb sec. i explained that by voting for me it would be helping out the school, so my slogan was "Help me help you, Vote for..." and i got voted in so i guess it worked out pretty well!

jessie

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question:        election q12

Hi, I have never run for anything in my life and now that i am a freshman i decide to run for treasurer. I really need some help that will help me win and what i should do. Thank You

Richard

LilPenguin02@aol.com

answer:

first of all, you need to get people's attention so that they know who you are. be kind to anyone and everyone no matter what. be sure to show people that you have your fun side, but when it comes to work, you're very willing and determined. if you have to make a speech, bring humor into it.. aka crack a few jokes to loosen up the crowd. but the most important thing is to have fun when you do it. no regrets!

annie papadakis

anney23@hotmail.com

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question:        election q11

I am running for SCA vice-president of my high school. I am desperate for a unique speech\skit idea. If you have seen something that worked, please share it with me. Thank you.

Katie Clark

answer:

Here is another idea:

Dress really formally on stage -- but underneath wear different outfits that demonstrate your abilities -- construction clothes for hard worker -- lab coat for academics -- leave the school spirit wear for the last outfit. State that you have all of these skills and abilities. You can dress up or remove (guess which one gets the biggest response). Try to keep it serious but informative about your abilities.

Dave Conlon

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question:        election q10

Hi, I'm a freshman from York, Pennsylvania. I have a real problem with the way student council representatives in our school are being elected. It is definitely a popularity contest. There are so many kids in my school that would benefit from the leadership conferences that student council can get you involved with. Plus, a lot of the students that run, do so just to prove that they are popular, then do nothing to help the council get work done. I think our school needs a new way to elect representatives so that the students who really want to be involved, get involved! Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Catherine Rabentine

abrab@aol.com

answer:

The problem often is that any student who says that they want to run is allowed to run. Establish some very basic selection procedures, such as academic achievement, activity participation, teacher support and written indication of interest. All interested candidates are asked to fulfill these requirements by certain timelines. Those who are just interested in the "fun" and "popularity" of campaigning rarely can complete a set of selection procedures that ask them to show basic leadership skills. The students who complete the initial selection process on time and attend all preliminary meetings are the ones who are allowed to run. Political parties make sure that their candidates have some leadership abilities before they are brought to the public vote. Let the same thing happen at your school. Democracy does not mean that any yahoo who promises to shave his head or eat goldfish is allowed to run. Make your process serious but not onerous and you will attract serious candidates.

Dave Conlon

We just implemented a new plan of deciding class congress. Our class had so many motivated people that I thought that it was horrible to turn people that wanted to work hard away. What we did was have a very detailed nomination process complete with essay and teacher evaluations, along with a comm. service recommendation, and that deterred many kids that would not work as hard. Then we set guidelines, no less then a 2.0 GPA, no unexcused absences, etc., and we eliminated the elections all together. I had to fight with my principal about this because he still wanted the democracy in there so we compromised and the class officers were still elected. All in all it worked out really good and I highly recommend it.

Angie Schiavoni

Hi! I'm a junior from Leigh High School in San Jose, CA. We have had a similar problem, and we held a discussion on how to try and resolve it. Two suggestions were requiring voter registration and also voting in class-- what have people's experiences been with these?

James Sheldon

jsheldon@bigfoot.com

Hi. I'm President of my Student Body in Tx. We just elected or representatives and battled with the same problems you are having. Like the others there is a definite selection process, which all those who are nominated have to go through. Then we just established a new 'Point System'. The way it works is this...The executive officers do not need points. However, those who are elected representatives start out with 7 points. Then in the next semester they have to earn 15 points. They can do this by bringing supplies to the car wash or making 2 dozen cookies for the bake sales or cleaning up after a dance, etc. Then by the start of the new semester- the officers tally up the points and whoever doesn't have 15 is asked to step down from their position. You can revise it as you wish but it works well. Depending on your grading period you can do it per quarter or over a semester with as many points as you choose. It’s basically up to each council how they choose to do it. But good luck!!!

Sara Abbott

wdabbot@ibm.net

Hey, I hear your problems. Our student council makes it very hard for anyone to get elected who wouldn't do a good job. Our sponsor demands a lot of candidates, and has strict guidelines on campaigns. First we have mandatory meetings for those who are running. Our candidates must have attended 2/3 of the meetings, have teacher and faculty endorsements, must attend mandatory meetings in order to run (no exceptions, if you can't make it to one meeting how can you commit to the many if you gain office). We also can only have 5 posters, no food, and spend less than $50 dollars in campaigning. This makes sure only the truly devoted seek office. It is making it difficult to have fun campaigns, but makes people vote according to the issues

Skip

wwskip@hotmail.com

I understand your problems, but I disagree with many of the other candidate’s schools, which are laying down so many requirements for people to run for student council. By having candidates write essays, have teacher recommendations, good academic achievement, activity participation, teacher support and written indication of interest, makes this sound like a National Honor Society. We have a basic guideline of 2.0 and above and also never having been suspended before but that’s pretty much it.

Living in Singapore (hope you guys here know where that is, lot of people in America know it by the country where you can't chew gum) and going to the American school there i feel that the selection of candidates is fair by a democratic vote of the entire school. Unfortunately some of the popular people might receive more votes, but that’s life, Ronald Reagan might have received more votes because he used to be a movie actor, or Kerry might receive more votes because he is popular among Vietnam War veterans but hey elections in America are still democratic. In the local schools here in Singapore (i don't go to one, used to though, i go to the American school, www.sas.edu.sg), teachers appoint student leaders who are known as prefects, they have to wear a tie everyday to school they wear a badge on their uniform and they act like a cop by enforcing school laws. They write your name down in a little book, if they see you breaking the smallest rules and then report to higher authority teachers. It’s like a student KGB, definitely not by the people and for the people. They just serve the teachers and not the students, as its good for their resumes. They're also corrupted as you can often get out of a fix if you pay them at least 10 dollars. For example if they catch you using your cell phone during school hours they can confiscate it, but a little cash can do the talking. Corruption starts young huh.

This is why I think by and far student council elections are still very fair, compared with student leaders in some other countries. Also in our school it is necessarily true that the most popular person wins. Take me for example I did my speech on Sept 1st, and I found out I won on Sept 3rd. I'm so HAPPY!! I ran against two very popular girls. Both of them definitely have a more extensive network of friends than I do. One of them was a dancer and you know those people in dance!! So I just campaigned hard gave out stickers made posters and gave in my view and a lot of my classmates a good speech.(sorry if sound cocky) The dancer girl was actually the same person who ran against me last year and lost again this year. She was actually freshman secretary though two years ago. So most people work hard in stud. co. or else they'll fear they won't get re-elected. And most people who have done student council want to stay in it because it is so fun.

This year i get to organize prom, yeah!! Since Bush hasn't been handling Iraq that well he might not get re-elected either. No offense your point system in Texas sounds so first grade we'll give you a gold star if you do a good job!! Instead we have a really good sponsor who makes sure everyone does his or her job. I might seem biased but this system works well at our school a competent SPONSOR is really important.

Also I disagree that class congress or senate, we call it Class council at our school should be elected. Only officers should be elected. This way you are discouraging people to help out with your activities because you are laying down so many procedures and guidelines. Writing an essay and having a teacher recommendations just to be able to help out with planning prom!! COME ON!! THATS not Quite Fair your' just isolating people. AND YOU GUYS MAKE SURE YOUR STUDENT BODY KNOWS WHAT’S GOING ON WITH STUDENT COUNCIL. UPDATE YOUR BULLETIN BOARDS AND MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS LET THEM HELP YOU PLAN prom, let everyone do it. DONT ISOLATE your- self from the student body they'll see you as an ELITIST organization. As long as you have a good class council, which everyone can join, and not elected so less popular people can participate in student council activities you should be able to feel you are being represented better, Cathy. And I agree unfortunately non student-council people cannot really join the student council convention. In our school only 6 or 7 people are picked to go each year. I was lucky enough to be one of those people and had a blast attending a leadership Conference at the International School of Manila in the Philippines. There is an- other one this year at the International school of Bangkok in Thailand. And hopefully I'll be able to attend.

I know that there are plenty of leadership camps you can go to in the summer which are really helpful and fun across the whole country don't restrict yourself to your state. If you can go to Honolulu, HI, where I was originally born and used to live. They have a great program at Kamehameha high school, the Hawaiian only high school. It’s hard to get into though. Anyways, just my two cents.

Ted Ho

hotchicken57@hotmail.com

Hi, at my junior high and also having the same problem. I am running for class representative and I had at least fifteen students in a twenty-student class. I was feeling real good about my chances of winning. But all of the sudden the most popular kid in the class decides to start running. In a matter of five minuets half of the kids who said they were voting for me decided to vote for this kid. This kid I know will not do a very good job. Hopefully I can turn it around. Go Sox!!!

Jake Lucey

gosx101@comcast.com

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question:        election q9

I'm running for student council president, and I was wondering if you had any interesting campaign ideas, or ideas for school activities.

L.Seevaratnam

seevarat@bconnex.net

answer:

I just ran for class president and won, and I think that two ideas that I used in my speech helped me win. One was trying to set up teacher evaluations so that we could have a say in how our teachers are doing. The other was that at some schools they have a student advisory committee that reviews each suspension and makes sure they are fair. Using these ideas helped me gain votes of students that I maybe wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Oh and one year I used the slogan, "you won’t get any bologna from Angela Schiavoni" and I threw bologna at people. I won and I suggest trying to play off your name but I never lived that one down!

Angie Schiavoni

Sturvoni@execpc.com

I had a gr8 student council speech and won. One of the things i did was to actually come down from the podium and walk amongst the audience and tell how a SC president shouldn’t be up on a podium but down here working with the students. If you'd like to hear more or tell me how you won/lost email me

Eric

PresEric@aol.com

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question:        election q8

Hi... Our school is looking to revise our ASB Constitution and our Election Process to make it into a more fair process that will attract more dedicated students and become less of a popularity contest. Any ideas?

James Sheldon

jsheldon@juno.com

answer:

The real truth is that elections ARE popularity contests. However, you can have good elections that select the most popular person from a slate of qualified and competent candidates. The simplest way is to have a process in place whereby candidates have to complete a set of tasks that are more than getting 25 people to sign a nomination form. Set a minimum of three different tasks that have specific dates, timelines and requisites. Do not make these onerous, but relevant to the positions being applied for. E.g. -- fill in a nomination form, have the signature of two staff members who support your application, and write two full paragraphs as to why you are qualified for the job. You will weed out the people who think it's a joke to run, and thereby eliminate the popular jokers who do not take the election process seriously.

Dave C.

Have a meeting for anyone who is interested in joining the student coucil club. Give out permission slips for being in student council club and anyone who wants to run has to be a member of that club. If you get C's or below you can't run and if you don't stay committed you get kicked out. Oh and only the people in the student council club can vote.
-EM.

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question:        election q7

I'm going to run for our High school junior class council at the end of my sophomore year. I need poster ideas and slogans to help my look fun and beneficial to our school. Please help anybody......this is something I’ve always wanted to do!!! My friends are all on the council this year and i want to be on it next year...!! Please Help

Stewart

Stewball@juno.com

answer:

Some ideas would be to put paper foot prints on the ground and write "vote for _____" I am running for a position and would really like it if you could give me ideas if you have received any. Thanks-summermeyer@hotmail.com

summer

summermeyer@hotmail.com

the ones i used last year that got me an office this year. "Victoria's Real secret...she votes for (your name)" "SEX...now that i have your attention vote for me" "Got (your last name)? Does the student council good." umm and i know i had more but that’s all i can think of right now. Hope it helps you a little sorry if not and GOOD LUCK! I’m running for class prez this year so wish me luck too. (:

Chantelle

If you ever go to the beach, write your school's name in the sand. Take a picture of you with that. Then on the poster show that picture and say "NAME thinks of our school, even in the summer!" A Junior used it last year at our school, and she was elected!

Brooke

sisof18@hotmail.com

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question:        election q6

I want to run in the upcoming student council elections but first I want to ask what things are within student council power (e.g.: painting the halls) before I start to make election promises. Also, what has worked in other schools? I need some fresh ideas on events, etc. And how to win! :) That's all. Thanks!

Naseem

answer:

Start with your teacher/advisor and administration first. Ask them what is within the power of the student council. If you get an answer that you don't agree with, maybe that's the place to start for changes. Improved communication is always important. The best promises are those that students believe that YOU can accomplish. What does your school need, and what can YOU do about it? You know your own capabilities and you know your school.

Dave C.

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question:        election q5

I am running for ASB Secretary and I am looking for ways to reach out to the freshmen and sophomores. The election is coming up and I don't know many of them, but I have heard that the freshmen have the highest voter turnout.

Thanks

Saffron

answer:

We have found that our junior students have the highest voter turnout and they don't know anything about the candidates. Therefore, they are the votes you can influence. It's hard to change a senior's vote because they know you or know of you. Take the time to get to know the junior students and ask them what they want. We run two election assemblies with the juniors going first. This allows the candidates to get ready to present for their peers, but many neglect the real voters and talk down to them. These are the students who are going to be at the school the longest, so what you promise as changes really matters to them.

Dave C.

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question:        election q4

I'm running for the office of ASB Treasurer. The person that I'm running against has a freshman sister that is helping her get the freshmen votes. This is the biggest class of our school. What should I do to get more involved with the freshmen class? Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated. Thanks

Brandon

ncgb@msn.com

answer:

The first rule of any election campaign is to be genuine. People can spot a fake smile very easily. Second, don't be afraid to network with any group in your school. Remember that when you are talking one-on-one with anyone in your school you are talking to more than one person--you are also talking to the people that this person talks to. If you make a good impression with one person, they will tell their friends about you. If you take the time to talk to 10 people, you are talking to them and all the people they know.

Dave C.

Thanks for the advice. It worked! Just got the results and I was voted to be the next Treasurer. Thanks for the help, it left a lasting impression.

Brandon

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question:        election q3

I'm running for ASB Treasurer; any catchy/ cute slogan ideas? Or, something fun I could do for my speech?

Heidi Lutz

JALBrea@aol.com

answer:

The easiest idea I've seen work (and it only works once) is to ask the entire assembly to stand up. Yes, you're serious "Stand up guys!" Once they're standing ask them to sit. Then say, "See what I've been able to accomplish with the entire student body in just 15 seconds. Just think what I can do in a year!"

I ran for ASB Treasurer too and this helped me get people to remember my name.

Good Luck!

Brandon

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question:        election q2

hey! i am running for freshman class vice-president, and i was wondering if you could give me any ideas as to what i should do for a slogan...i am really scared!!! elections are in like 3 weeks, and i need a campaign!!! thanks for you time, please email me back w/ any ideas.

Shelley

bobspice3@aol.com

answer:

a quick fix for a slogan mind-block is to find a web site of a rhyming dictionary, then type in your name and see all the things that rhyme with it. ideas will soon be popping outta yer head like crazy. don't be scared to have fun and be crazy!

annie papadakis

anney23@hotmail.com

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question:

I am running for Sophomore Vice president. I was on the council for my first time last year and i really enjoyed it, but now I am worried because there are three other people running against me. So...if any of you have any ideas that might be helpful...please email me! Thank you

Lindsey

linzlougg@aol.com

answers:

Try using lines like " People don't care what you say till they see how much you care " " People don't care what you do until you are doing it " If you want any more quotes or this type of stuff just e-mail me.

Craig

turn_it_up15@hotmail.com

first thing's first.. be confident.. but not over-confident. when you stand up there in front of your school try to push your nervousness aside keep on repeating to yourself in your head a phrase that calms you down. finally, crack a few jokes to start off your speech. be sure to tell the audience that you have your fun times, but that it never gets in the way of your determination. Be sure to mention at some point in you speech that you respect the other candidates and think that they will all do a good job. last but not least use your hands when you talk. eye contact is crucial, but if you're too nervous to look at people keep this in mind...focus on a point on the wall just above people's heads...do this while your eyes drift from wall to wall so it really looks like you're making eye contact with someone.. the audience doesn't have to know the truth. LOL if you need any more tips, feel free to e-mail me!

annie papadakis

anney23@hotmail.com

An excellent book to help you mount an election campaign is "How to Win a High School Election." You can find the ordering details at : www.schoolelection.com

I have looked at the book and it offers very sound campaign strategies and ideas.

Dave C.