After You, Madame President . . .

As the election year in America begins to heat up, it's easy to get lost in all the rhetoric, mudslinging, and general blasts of hot air that are an inevitable part of our nation's electoral process. It seems as though every television channel and news website is dominated by the primary election hoopla that is sweeping the nation.

Interestingly enough, there is an oasis of electoral sanity in all of this crazy quest for votes - a place where good manners, sincere and thoughtful proposals, and good common sense prevail. It is also a place where the standards are high, and where the bar is set for the rest of the country to emulate - that idyllic spot is the Global School first grade classroom of Mrs. Pervez.

In order to help her students better understand how elections work, Mrs. Pervez organized some basic lessons and facts. As part of that discussion, she asked students to actually organize their own campaigns for the fictitious title of President of Global School. Each student worked to come up with a few campaign statements and pledges, designed a poster, and gave a speech before the assembled student body, followed by a final vote. With only three students in the class, the competition was destined to be intense. Thankfully, there were no debates . . .

The slogans that Royce, Madelyn, and Rheeya developed ranged from strong statements of personal qualities: "I am nice", I am cheerful!", and "I am smart", to promoting the practice of good manners - "I respect people", "I love people", and "I am helpful". One candidate of course, tried to summarize it all with "I am super", while another played to the patriotic angle with a "Vote for America" slant within their slogans.

Once the personal superlatives were out of the way, each candidate finally got down to brass tacks with their specific promises. Fully cognizant of where the majority of votes were to be found, the candidates went right for the political jugular. No vague promises of slashing the budget, dealing with foreign countries or regulating Wall Street - our first graders knew what the voters wanted to hear: "I will help you with your math", was my personal favorite - perhaps echoing my own greatest need.

The winning candidate however, pandered enough to her target populace to make most of the current crop of adult presidential candidates look like rank amateurs. Like the real-life candidates, her platform paid little attention to the need to pay for her promises, or the small practicalities of location and legalities. Instead, her slogan was simple, and embodied the essence and longing of every pre-teen's desire - especially in the hotter months of summer and fall - "If I become President, I will build a swimming pool!"

When the election was over, only one candidate was, to coin a term, "still floating". Throwing caution to the wind, but adding a nice historical twist to the process, the students and parents of Global School elected their first woman President. In her inaugural ceremony - thankfully minus the usual round of inaugural balls - President Rheeya was brief, yet graceful, in her victory and acceptance speech. In fact, her simple "thank you" may have set a record for clarity and brevity that will likely go untouched for decades.

Though most of the election excitement has subsided on the campus, and few if any students ask about the proposed pool - thank goodness! - there is still one notable perk that I like to think makes our new President's life a little better. At morning drop-off, I often assist the assigned teachers in helping to open car doors. Whenever possible each day, I make it a special point to greet Rheeya's car.

While it's not quite Secret Service-level protection, and no band is eagerly waiting nearby to launch a hearty rendition of "Hail to the Chief", my daily greeting as I open the door, "After you, Madame President . . ." seems to do the trick. Her quick, shy smile alone makes that simple phrase all the more worthwhile . . .