Silly Sock Party Wins Annual Government Election

By Kora Gaines

Every year, Mr. Sibley’s college government class is given the assignment to create their own political party. Each “party” must then decide on the issues they want to promote for a school-wide election, and then conduct the election. This year, the class was divided into six political parties: The Grit Party, The Loud Party, The Red White and Bull Party, The Silly Sock Party, The Triple T Party, and The Waddle Forward Party. Each party also includes a logo and a mascot. A prime minister is chosen for each group, who serves as a liaison between the group and the school, community, and students.

Each party came up with its own ideas and mounted campaigns that lasted from January 12th through January 21st. Each campaign included creating a campaign poster and either a radio or television commercial. They then had a debate to defend their groupś position on different topics on January 21st before the January 23rd election.

Any student in the school was able to vote as long as they were registered by January 21st. On election day, the groups had to present their ideas to all the government classes. During the election, one key difference from reality is that members of their own party could not vote for themselves.

The Grit Party’s platform included a service-learning field trip, a four-day school week with Mondays off, updated record boards on the gym walls, and increased school fundraising efforts to benefit the school.

The Loud Party proposed a Wednesday late-start policy, discounted entry fees to school sporting events for recent ACHS graduates, increased senior yearbook discounts with reduced late fees, and allowing backpacks in junior high classrooms.

The Red, White, and Bull Party focused on negotiating NCCC class prices, replacing the burlap walls throughout the school, allowing a senior class trip, and reducing required service hours.

The Silly Sock Party’s platform included adding a second agriculture teacher, extending work study opportunities to juniors, implementing a service-learning day, and lowering required service hours from 60 to 40.

The Triple T Party proposed increasing college preparation opportunities at ACHS, updating school plaques and banners, allowing credit and debit card use at concession stands, and extending vending machine hours.

Lastly, the Waddle Forward Party’s platform included integrating service learning into classes, addressing classroom size concerns for gifted programs, revamping the trophy case, and creating a mandatory life skills and applications course.

Following the January 23 election, results showed the Silly Sock Party winning with 26 votes—just two more than the Grit Party, which received 24 votes. The Triple T Party placed third with 15 votes, followed by the Waddle Forward Party with 12 votes. The Loud Party finished fifth with 10 votes, and the Red, White, and Bull Party placed sixth with two votes.