Students vote to determine which portrait of first president will be displayed in Cd'A schools

As voters across the country cast their ballots Tuesday, K-5 students in the Coeur d'Alene School District participated in an election of their own.

The candidates on the ballot? George Washington, George Washington and George Washington.

Under new Idaho law, public schools are encouraged to display a portrait of the nation's first president in every K-5 classroom and in classrooms where history, civics, government, geography or economics are taught.

"We always try to ensure that we're following all the statutes and laws," said Coeur d'Alene School District Director of Curriculum and Instruction Katie Graupman.

Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield selected four historical portraits of George Washington for schools to choose from, and Coeur d'Alene district leaders narrowed the options to three. They left the final decision to students.

"We talked about the importance of student voice in this," Graupman said. "We used this as an opportunity to engage our students in the democratic process."

At Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts & Humanities, students voted by stamping an ink dot below their favorite portrait. Assistant Principal Madison Smith said teachers used the activity as an opportunity to teach students about voting and the democratic process.

"They know today is Election Day, and this is a really exciting activity for them to kind of practice," Smith said. "We have been talking about which one looks the best, which one represents Sorensen the best, and who our first president was."

Students swarmed the table displaying the three portraits, enthusiastically supporting their favorites. Smith reminded students they could vote only once and should not tell their classmates how to vote.

Fourth-grade students Hallie Wagstaff and Ruby Garbrecht voted for the second portrait, the Lansdowne Portrait (1796).

"I liked that it had more than just George Washington's portrait. It had his feet, his whole body, and his office," Wagstaff said.

When asked why they were voting on a portrait of George Washington for their classrooms, both students answered, "because he was our first president."

The George Washington portraits will be displayed in classrooms under Idaho Code Section 33-1602, which was amended earlier this year by Senate Bill 1336. The legislation added specific civics education requirements for public schools, with an emphasis on inspiring students with "a love of nation, fellow countrymen, and common history and culture."

"It's just making sure that these specific topics are taught within our courses," Graupman said. "It's intended to instill a love of our country."

One of the 12 state representatives who voted against the bill, Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, said he had no objection to displaying portraits of George Washington in classrooms.

"The only reason is it's another burden on schools," Gannon said. "I think the schools are over-regulated. It's really tough for them to have all these rules coming from every direction."

By 5 p.m., the election results were in. The Lansdowne Portrait (1796) emerged victorious by a 6-to-3 margin. Framed copies of the portrait will soon be displayed in classrooms across the Coeur d'Alene School District.

"I learned that it's fun to vote," Wagstaff said.

    Adeline Smith casts her vote for her favorite George Washington portrait along with fellow Sorensen students on Nov. 3.
  

    Assistant principal Madison Smith oversees Sorensen students as they cast their votes for their favorite George Washington portrait on Nov. 3.