School elections-Just popularity contests?

[DisTeach1]

We were talking about school elections because my son's high school is having theirs right now.

Do you remember who was your class president? I don't!!!! Is it usually just a popularity contest? Did your class president turn into a big success later or did that need for attention/popularity never really go away? I think I need to look up who mine was.

I guess I always thought if someone was that ambitious in high school, it might mean success later in life...

 

[Tink888]

We were talking about school elections because my son's high school is having theirs right now.

Do you remember who was your class president? I don't!!!! Is it usually just a popularity contest? Did your class president turn into a big success later or did that need for attention/popularity never really go away? I think I need to look up who mine was.

I guess I always thought if someone was that ambitious in high school, it might mean success later in life...

I remember my class president from High School (20 years ago lol). He went on to work behind the scenes in politics for awhile and also had his own business. He later died of cancer. Great guy! And he was far from being the most popular kid in class but by the end of high school, he was respected by the entire class.

For some, it's probably a popularity thing but I don't think that's the case for many who run. It's more about having the chance to make a difference where you are (even if it's only little things) and it's the first exposure to see what governing is all about. It's a leadership and service thing. I don't think it means success later in life, but it's good life experience.

 

[Golf4food]

Absolutely just a popularity contest. Our class president was a ditz. Wouldn't want them leading much of anything besides a fast food drive through...

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

School elections are absolutely a popularity contest. Our class president is supposed to be in charge of all of the class reunions... what a disaster. They didn't send out notices for our 20th until about 3 months prior to the event. That one only happened because there were enough other people involved that we finally just took over and made it happen. We aren't even having a 25th.

 

[DisTeach1]

Too funny! I can't remember whose our president was. It would be interesting to look it up and see how well they have done. Sometimes popularity in high school does not always translate into a successful adult life. Sometimes the people who are really popular never stop trying to keep all the attenton and glory on themselves throughout their lives...know what I mean-they have a hard time letting go of that popularity later on life.

 

[Nennie]

My freshman year of highschool it was a popularity contest. I remember who the freshman class president was, b/c students joked about impeaching her! LOL!!

By sophomore year, everyone realized that you needed someone who was actually willing to do the job (not that it's that "big" of a job, but still!), so then it became less of a popularity contest (I say "less" of a contest b/c the class presidents were always somewhat popular, but they were also hard workers).

 

[Kim1964]

My senior year the election was decided based on who gave the funniest speech. As far as I know, he's never planned any of the reunions. Another guy in the class stepped up and has handled all 5 of them (funny, his mother handled them for my mom's class).

 

[corndog]

Yes, but what is popularity?

 

[HM]

I do remember who my HS class president was (nearly 27 years later). He moved far away though, so I have no idea what he's up to.

And yes, in some ways it is a popularity thing, though our's was not in the "popular" group, he was one of the brightest people in our class.

 

[Cindyluwho]

School elections are absolutely a popularity contest. Our class president is supposed to be in charge of all of the class reunions... what a disaster. They didn't send out notices for our 20th until about 3 months prior to the event. That one only happened because there were enough other people involved that we finally just took over and made it happen. We aren't even having a 25th.

Seriously, are we talking about the same class president??? We are just now working on our 30 and we had to hunt her down. Useless. And she was a bully and a hoo hoo in High School!! But....she put out and was popular!! or maybe it's just small towns in Washington....

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I have no idea who any of my class "officials" were. But they were all the most popular kids. I couldn't tell you what anyone from my high school is doing now. But then I don't really care and don't plan on going to any of my high school reunions.

 

[happygirl]

Yes, what else would the be based on?? There isn't much more to go on then that sadly

 

[Becky2005]

My freshman year of highschool it was a popularity contest. I remember who the freshman class president was, b/c students joked about impeaching her! LOL!!

By sophomore year, everyone realized that you needed someone who was actually willing to do the job (not that it's that "big" of a job, but still!), so then it became less of a popularity contest (I say "less" of a contest b/c the class presidents were always somewhat popular, but they were also hard workers).

I have no clue who our class officers were but I think this sums up my DD's thoughts on things. To an extent it is a popularity contest too but Freshman year, I know DD just randomly voted because she didn't give a care who won. I'm not even sure she voted or literally just randomly circled a name. I remember asking her about it at the beginning of the year & her attitude was she just put the vote in because she *had* to, I don't think she even knew who she voted for.

At the end of this year, they voted for Sophmore year and she was telling me how she DID put some thought into the vote this time because there were people she wanted to see get in office. They didn't win but she actually *cared* to put her vote in this time. Of course, she said she can also complain now because she DID vote intentionally. We always use the line, if you don't vote, you can't complain if the outcome isn't what you want. I do know that one person that was in office that she doesn't care for much did not get re-elected & that made DD happy. I am only thinking she didn't care for them personally though not if they did a decent job or not -- so that is where the popularity comes into play.

My hunch is the people running are also people interested in politics in general. For example, I can't picture my DD ever *wanting* to be a class elected official. I know she never had any desire to run in Middle School & that hasn't changed at all.

 

[puffkin]

At my school it was kind of but not really. Our class officers did a LOT. I should know because I was Vice President as a junior and senior. We were heavily involved with some major fundraisers, prom, class trip, graduation, class play/musical, after graduation bash, etc. Pretty much everything funneled through the class officers, so much so that we had our own homeroom with just the four of us to go over things every day.

I think that popularity helped all of us win initially, but I also think that the class generally picked people that were capable because it was no cake walk. It was HARD and a lot of work. We had the same officers both years and we all ran unopposed our Senior year so we must have done a good job. The president is now a veternarian, I am a CPA, the treasurer is a social worker and the secretary is a communications director at a college, so we all ended up pretty well!

 

[RadioNate]

No clue what our class president is doing now. It was absolutely a popularity contest. I'm sure she did a good job.

I would bet she is successful now. She was smart.

 

[PatsMom]

Definitely a popularity contest at my school. And my DD tells me it is still that way at her school.