Vocabulary

Decorated: added things to make

something more atractive.
Beckoned: signaled in some way, often
with gesture.
Gradually: slowly over a period of time.
Hesitated: paused before you said or did
soemthing
 Prodded: Encourage to do something
Debate: A formal public discussion
about specific issues
Stalled: Delayed; stopped
Scanned: quickly looked over
Shaken: upset
Inflated: filled with air
 Should We Let Politics Become
Personal?
As a high-school junior, I have seen three
school elections, and this one is definitely the
best. Most students seem involved in one way
or another. Elections meetings and activities
occur almost daily. Clasrrom are decorated
with posters. Huge banners have beckoned us
to vote. And everywhere, excitment hangs in
the air. Whats the diferrence?
For those of you who have been sleeping fro the
past two month,let me explain. This year, we are
not simply electing a student council, student boy
president, and other officers. Day by day, this
election is gradually teaching us broader lessons
about government. Thats because our election
includes many elements of local and national
elections.
Unfortunately, however,were imitating one
element that doesnt belong in either
arena:negative campaigning.
 At first I hesitated to write this letter. After all,
the electon began in such a positive way. The
school create d an election committee, and,
prodded by my social studies teacher, I
decided to join. The committee had each
student participate in a debate on school and
national issues. Each candidate remaind
positive through this process.
However, this positive process has stalled, bogged
down in discussions that have nothing to do with
issues.
Anyone who has scanned this very newspaper, the
Lincoln High Chronicle, has seen negative reports.
At a recent event, a reporter questioned how much
Steve McFees memebership on the basquetball
team has taught him leadership skills. Your reporter
repeated his slogan, Team McFeed : A slam Duck.
Then ,she asked Isnt it true youre justa bench
player?
McFee looked shaken.Things only got worse
when teh reporter inflated her lungs and asked,
If youve exaggerating? The next day, one of
his opponents displayed a new poster that read,
McFee-Not On My Team!

A few days later, McFee fire back with this ad:
Rachel Brown says she,ll improve the cafeteria.
But is she qualified for the job?The commercial
calimed the campaign workers saw Brown
purchasing junk food at convenience store. The
ad concluded, For a Healthy Election, Junk
Rachel Brown.
Positive slogans have given way to sound bites
that spread petty, personal attacks. People are
already saying that these things do reflect what
goes in the real elections-which is what our own
election is all about.
Well, as students, were taught to look
everything with critical eye. We can learn from
our mistakes-even if our leader cant.So lets do
better tha real politicians.