Press ReleaseSource: Scholastic Corporation
Students Around the Country Select George W. Bush as President in the 2004
Scholastic Election Poll
Wednesday October 20, 10:00 am ET
Scholastic Election Poll Has Mirrored Outcome of Every General Election
Except Two Since 1940
NEW YORK, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Scholastic, the global
children's publishing and media company, today announced the results of
the 2004 Scholastic Election Poll, an educational activity that gives
children too young to go to the polls themselves the opportunity to
participate in the political process. More than half a million students in
first through eighth grades from across the country participated in the
poll, choosing George W. Bush as the next President of the United States.
Since 1940, Scholastic Classroom Magazines have given students the
opportunity to cast their vote for president in the Scholastic Election
Poll (online voting was added in 2000). In every election, but two, the
outcome of the Scholastic Election Poll mirrored the outcome of the
general election. The exceptions were in 1948 when students chose Thomas
E. Dewey over Harry S. Truman and in 1960 when more students voted for
Richard M. Nixon than John F. Kennedy. In 2000, student voters chose
George W. Bush, mirroring the Electoral College result but not the result
of the popular vote.
In the 2004 Scholastic Election Poll, George W. Bush received 52 percent
of the votes and the Democratic contender, John F. Kerry, received 47
percent. Rounding out the vote, 1 percent of students voted for other
candidates.
Results from key swing states are as follows:
* Florida and Ohio were a near tie between President Bush and Senator
Kerry.
* President Bush received 57 percent of the student vote in Pennsylvania.
* Senator Kerry received 58 percent of the student vote in New Hampshire.
"Teachers rely on Scholastic Classroom Magazines and Scholastic News
Online for articles on the latest news from the campaign trail and to help
students learn about how our nation elects its leaders. The Scholastic
Election Poll is a fun way for students to apply their knowledge of the
candidates and the electoral process and to get young children excited
about politics so they'll grow up to be active, well-informed citizens and
future voters," said Rebecca Bondor, Editor in Chief, Scholastic Classroom
Magazines.
Students from across the country voted through mail-in paper ballots found
in many of Scholastic Classroom Magazines, including Scholastic News® and
Junior Scholastic® beginning in September and online at Scholastic News
Online (
http://www.scholastic.com/news) from mid-July to October 18, 2004.
The Scholastic Election Poll is not based on a scientifically designed
sample of the student population. It is designed as an educational
activity to encourage student thought and debate, and to give students an
opportunity to express their opinions. The respondents are self-selected,
based on teachers who want their classes to participate and students who
want to participate individually.
Scholastic is a leading publisher of educational magazines with 34
publications for grades PreK-12, reaching over 25 million students and
teachers across the country. Teachers rely on these publications to
enhance instruction in such subjects as science, reading and language
arts, math, social studies, current events, history, geography, world
languages, and art. Scholastic News Online
(
http://www.scholastic.com/news), the magazines' online companion gives
teachers, students and parents an additional resource with which to learn
about and discuss current events in the classroom and at home.
Scholastic Corporation (Nasdaq: SCHL - News) is the world's largest
publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational
technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining
materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's
books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television
programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products
and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary
school-based book clubs, school- based book fairs, and school-based and
direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and
television networks; and the Company's Internet site,
http://www.scholastic.com.
Source: Scholastic Corporation
BTW, I'm glad to see you registered and voting, no matter who you support.
