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October 8, 2004/Tishri 23 5765, Vol. 57, No. 6
Children get political
MICHAEL MIKLOFSKY
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 Ilana Wexler, center with arms crossed, stands surrounded by Pardes Jewish Day School students. Wexler talked to middle school students on Oct. 1. Photo courtesy of Diane Silberman |
Wexler's five-month trip with her family to Central America and Europe last year is what sparked her interest in politics, but the trip was almost canceled because of a rise in safety concerns.
"I think it was in Guatemala when (the people I met in Guatemala) were telling me they didn't have anything to do with the war and the education and the health care was getting worse and worse, the prices were going up and I had to do something, so I did," she says.
Her efforts have resulted in the founding of Kids for Kerry, a nationwide organization that is designed to motivate kids to get involved in politics as a way to encourage their elders to vote. The group also works to promote the message of the Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).
Wexler, who lives in Oakland, Calif., says that when she returned from her trip, she asked her parents to join them by volunteering at some campaign phone banks.
Her idea to form the children's organization resulted in her meeting with, who she calls, "the future first lady," Teresa Heinz Kerry. Heinz Kerry later asked Wexler to speak at the convention.
Students at Pardes, who heard Wexler speak, mostly agreed that her speech was informative and that she answered comments from her peers. The students seemed to represent the voting public, some for President George Bush, others for Kerry, and still others who have not yet taken sides.
"Kerry has really good thoughts on education and health and the war in Iraq," says Rebecca Morris, a sixth-grade student at Pardes.
Eighth-grader Michael Silverman says he stands with Bush.
"I support what he's going to do for Medicare ... my dad's a doctor, so I support what he's going to do for that (and) stop the lawsuits, 'cause that's what's driving up heath care costs right now," he says. "Drug companies have to save hundreds of millions of dollars for lawsuits."
Some Pardes students are still on the fence.
"They both are better than each other in different ways," says eighth-grader Ben Damari. "I think Bush is better at following through with what he says (and) John Kerry kind of changes his mind, (but) Kerry's better at a bunch of different things."
Middle School Director Tobee Waxenberg says, "Over half of our student body watched the debates (held on Sept. 30), fifth through eighth grade, we have students here who are Bush supporters and we have many who are Kerry supporters.
"What she (Wexler) did was that she really talked to the kids about getting involved, getting serious about something because it does affect their lives, and she helped them start to understand that process," Waxenberg adds.