Donald Trump is a Bully, Newton 3rd Graders Say

NEWTON, MA - By now plenty of polls show that a large number of Republicans have been embarrassed by their whole presidential campaign, which has centered mostly on Donald Trump and whatever combination of words have found their way from between his ears to his mouth.

And kids? How do they feel about Trump?

By the look of things, he's about on par with brussels sprouts or an early bedtime.

Third-graders in Newton are pleading with GOP Chairman Reince Priebus and the Republican National Committee to "Dump Trump."

In a petition drive, the third-graders have morphed into "Kids Against Trump," calling the bombastic real estate mogul a bully and unfit to be president of the United States.

• SIGN THE "KIDS AGAINST TRUMP" PETITION HERE

Started a month ago at recess by a group of Angier School students who were "scared by his hatred and mean spirit," the original paper petition garnered 57 signatures.

"We were just joking around at recess and we came up with the petition for people who don't like Trump," 9-year-old Alexis Fridman told Patch.

She and her classmate, Micah St. George, joined Facebook as "Kids Against Trump" with the help of their mothers, Nanette Fridman and Erica Schluntz.

Though they're prohibited from campaigning on school grounds, Alexis and Micah have been going from door to door handing out business cards for their group. They have also posted the petition online to change.org, with a goal of at least 200 signatures. So far it has accumulated 101.

So why do they care so much? They can't even vote.

"In school they teach you to have a moral compass, or to, like, be a good person. And Trump is the exact opposite," Alexis Fridman said. "We need more good people to run."

Her mother, Nanette, said she was surprised by how engaged the children are in this year's election.

"I think the children have probably seen our growing frustration with the gridlock in Washington, and they realize that Trump's candidacy has grown out of that," she said. "But they see him as sort of a cautionary tale rather than a role model."

Micah said he was struck by how much Trump gets away with. If they did what Trump does, they know, they'd get in some pretty big trouble.

"This one kid said Trump would be thrown out of our class," he said. "He wouldn't even be suspended - he'd be expelled!"

Mark Shreve, a 33-year-old Indianapolis resident, met Micah and his mom through work. He signed the petition after being struck by the level of the kids' political awareness.

"It says something about a child that he is able to recognize that some of the things potential political candidates say are harmful or hurtful," Shreve said. "And that he is aware he is able to make a statement."

Shreve added that the next president's policies will not only affect current voters, but will also have an impact on the next generation.

"What's most important is that this discussion is happening in the homes of kids who are nine years old," Shreve said. "It's good news that parents are talking to their children about political candidates."

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr