Students Debate the Presidential Debates
By: Cassidy Hodges
Updated: November 2, 2012
After Monday's debate, one Springdale classroom is dissecting the
Presidential candidates' performance with a group of teens who aren't
even old enough to vote, but still have a passion for politics.
He sounds like a seasoned politician.
"The more you know the better you're going to be able to analyze these candidates and how they represent their constituents," says Blake Tucker, who is just 17 years old.
"Just because I can't vote now doesn't mean I can't start learning everything there is to know."
And for Blake, this classroom is where it all began..
"More so than anything we kind of evaluate the presidential candidates on how they did," says Ta-Neisha Marshall, who teaches debate.
So at Har-ber High School, the debate class is giving Obama and Romney a stern review.
The critique comes from everything they learn here in this room.
"I've been able to catch more of the little things they may say that they probably shouldn't say or the things that they've said that are really strong points," says Ashlynn Moore.
And these kids are far from apathetic.
"Whenever we are older the debt is going to be passed down to us and those things will affect us whether it's right now or down the road," says Moore
"I think 7 years ago their opinions and ideas didn't really matter, I think a huge turning point was in this last election, Obama really hit hard going after the college vote," says Marshall.
Maybe enough to create a new era of young voters.
"I realize that when I do turn 18 and am a registered voter that it's important to vote any chance that I get because me voting could make the difference," says Tucker.
He sounds like a seasoned politician.
"The more you know the better you're going to be able to analyze these candidates and how they represent their constituents," says Blake Tucker, who is just 17 years old.
"Just because I can't vote now doesn't mean I can't start learning everything there is to know."
And for Blake, this classroom is where it all began..
"More so than anything we kind of evaluate the presidential candidates on how they did," says Ta-Neisha Marshall, who teaches debate.
So at Har-ber High School, the debate class is giving Obama and Romney a stern review.
The critique comes from everything they learn here in this room.
"I've been able to catch more of the little things they may say that they probably shouldn't say or the things that they've said that are really strong points," says Ashlynn Moore.
And these kids are far from apathetic.
"Whenever we are older the debt is going to be passed down to us and those things will affect us whether it's right now or down the road," says Moore
"I think 7 years ago their opinions and ideas didn't really matter, I think a huge turning point was in this last election, Obama really hit hard going after the college vote," says Marshall.
Maybe enough to create a new era of young voters.
"I realize that when I do turn 18 and am a registered voter that it's important to vote any chance that I get because me voting could make the difference," says Tucker.
