GUSTINE – This year’s presidential election has provided a lot of debate and discussion not only among adult voters but with minors who, while not able to legally vote, are not beyond voicing their opinions and choices.

Many schools held mock elections this week giving students the opportunity to cast their vote. Gustine Middle School held one on Monday.

“This election is historical and I didn’t want the day to go by without the kids understanding what it’s all about,” explained Principal Rita Azevedo.

The school-wide event began with an energetic morning assembly where students heard speeches from two students portraying the Republican and Democratic candidates.

Sarah Reynolds represented Senator Barack Obama and Ashley Jones represented Senator John McCain.

Each student presented prepared speeches depicting the views of the candidates on four issues: education, the environment, health care and energy.

“We used online sources, read research papers and listened to the debates to get our information for the speeches,” the two girls explained. Both cited their current events class as being very instrumental as well. The elective course has been following along the election trail since the start of the school year and has produced a great deal of discussion and the opportunity to delve more deeply into the election process.

“I think, from all the people I have talked to, that our school results will follow the national trend...most for Obama, some for McCain and then there are those who don’t seem to care,” Reynolds reflected.

Jones disagreed. She didn’t think there was a large gap between the candidates and predicted a close race in the real-life balloting. “A lot can happen in 24 hours in politics,” she pointed out.

Students across the grade levels shared their opinions about the issues facing the next president.

Eighth-grader Oscar Carrillo, said the environment and getting people out of the war are top issues for him. He likes the plan he has heard about using electric cars, the reduction in pollution and looks forward to driving something that is good for the environment when he reaches driving age. He said he feels confident that the next president will be able to get the troops out of the war.

Sixth-grade student David Arizpe, agreed that the environment is a major concern for the nation. He is excited about the possibility of a water vapor car. He conceded that there is a water shortage problem but also believes the water vapor car will help the earth and stop global warming. He also voiced opinions on animal cruelty and the need to raise the age limit on gun ownership. “I think we need to make changes before everything gets worse,” he noted.

Sixth-grader Joshua Cervantes brought up the issue of health care access.“I have a friend who couldn’t get her glasses fast enough because she didn’t have the right insurance,” he shared. He thinks people should be able to find hospitals and doctors who can help them. “I was able to get my glasses when I needed them, but she couldn’t and that wasn’t fair,” he expressed.

Informed from family discussions, world news, advertisements, classroom studies and the morning assembly speeches, students cast their votes throughout the day on Monday. The computer lab was set up as the polling place; students simply clicked on their choice and sent their vote on its way to be tallied.

The school-wide results were announced during the morning bulletin on Tuesday so students could follow the national results and see how their votes measured up.

Among the student body at Gustine Middle School, Obama was the overwhelming favorite with a 255-28 edge in the vote count.