Glenwood Elementary Students’ Essay Predicted Electoral College Predicament, Took Second Place at Regional Civics Competition

Media, PA…As the nation was debating who the next American president should be, Rachael Pinsley’s fifth grade class at Glenwood Elementary School was deciding whether or not to abolish the Electoral College.

The Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement’s fourth annual Lenfest Citizenship Challenge question posed the question: “Should the Constitution be amended to eliminate the Electoral College system for selecting the President and replace it with the national popular vote?” The contest was open to 4th and 5th grade students in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia, and Montgomery counties. Classes were asked to complete an essay that argued whether the Electoral College should remain a part of the voting process.

Ultimately deciding that the Electoral College should be abolished, the class’s collaborative essay – one of 120 submitted - caught the eyes of the contest organizers, who invited the class to compete against nine other finalists at the Constitution Center on December 13.

As finalists, the students had to produce a creative finalist entry. Working together, the class produced a video news show with “man on the street” interviews to present their research.

Pinsley’s class travelled to the National Constitution Center for the finals, where the creative entries were showcased for the first time. Students then answered questions from the panel of four judges including former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell as well as Judge Marjorie Rendell. After deliberating over the ten presentations they saw, Governor Rendell announced that Glenwood Elementary School had secured second place. As a prize, the school will receive a civics library and $500 for their school.

“The most rewarding aspect has been the deep conversations my students have had about the election,” said Pinsley. “It was amazing to see how their research and conversations led to a well executed project. Plus, their understandings were deepened by reality. Before the election they wrote that a candidate with the popular vote could lose due to the Electoral College. So, when it actually happened, it really brought that research home. ”

“This was a great opportunity for our students to learn about how government works,” said Superintendent James Wigo. “We are so proud of the great work our students produced for the competition.”

Glenwood’s winning video can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOsnLHDrvNc&feature=youtu.be