Local school makes voting fashionable
Teachers hoped that by hosting the mini-election they would provide learners with the necessary skills to one day cast their own vote in South Africa's national elections.
Millions of South Africans heeded the call to cast their votes in the national elections yesterday, but the polls opened a little earlier for little learners at Pax Mentis Academy.
Teachers at the school ensured that their learners were set to vote in the future when they hosted a mini-election on May 24.
The Kempton Express and parents witnessed their children casting their votes for the first time.
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Teachers hoped that by hosting the mini-election they would provide learners with the necessary to one day cast their own vote in South Africa’s national elections.
“The purpose of the event was to train our future voters. We need to start educating children from young in hopes that we plant the seed that will grow and ensure we have the best future voters,” said Belinda Sternberg, the founder and owner of Pax Mentis Academy.
Sternberg said it took the school three weeks of practice and planning to pull off the mini-election.
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She said they researched and got information together on topics they would cover during the school’s election.
“We tried to keep it focused on children. My learners have special needs and they like different things. We wanted to vote for the favourite in the school.
“We choose a favourite weighted doll, used to calm children with autism. Also on the ballot was the trampoline which is a favourite for the children,” she said.
Colourful Lego blocks and Thomas the Train rounded up the mini-election ballot for the children.
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Sternberg said the four toys were chosen because they were colourful and the children were familiar with them.
“Because the elections were on everyone’s minds, we hoped to teach the children that one day, when they will be old enough to vote they should do exactly that.
“We also hoped that the children would be able to go with their parents when they voted because they would understand what was happening. I believe that we have planted the seed.
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“Sternberg said that using the children’s favourite toys to vote shows that in the future, they will be able to use the ballot paper as a tool to vote for the party of their choice without hesitation.
She said it was important to vote and the learners needed to understand that.“Children should be taught their leaders need to have understanding and leadership that will be able to control the diversity of people in the country,” said Sternberg.
“My schools have children with so much diversity. I teach them it does not matter the colour of their skin or problems they have, be it physical or mental problems as long as someone is there for you, everything will be alright.
“For example, if my little one is in a wheelchair and they find that no one is there to put accessible ramps or to make easy parking accessible to them, they need to vote for someone who can stand up and say I will help you,” she said.
