As Kids Go, So Goes the Nation

Glasgow Middle School students Nadia Rentia, right, and Fabiana Arrazola, both 13, participate in a presidential debate during their eighth-grade civics class. Nadia made a statement for Obama (Dayna Smith - For The Washington Post)

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In a lesson about elections, counting and majorities, the students in Rosanne Sharpe's class at Fairfax County's Terra Centre Elementary School cast votes on a face for the class jack-o'-lantern.

The children voted in secret. Then they sat in a circle. One by one, each vote was tallied on the whiteboard.

"The kids all started cheering," Sharpe said. "They were actually getting a little loud because it was fairly close. I had to tell them to be quiet."

Smiley Face closed strong, winning 13 to 8.

Some Scary Face supporters took the loss hard. "Two kids started to cry because their Scary Face didn't win," Sharpe said. "I said, 'You know, when I vote in the election, maybe the person I vote for won't win, but I'm not going to cry.' "

Sharpe carved the winning face on a pumpkin.

We're not sure what the class decision tells us about tomorrow's vote.

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As Kids Go, So Goes the Nation

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