The presidential candidates get ready for the debate at the School Around Us on Wednesday. From left to right, the candidates are: Alfi Boyd, 9, Avery Peacock, 8, Rose Merrill, 11, Lucy Lukacs, 12, and Callum McCrum, 11. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

One of the leading candidates for president is Avery Peacock. She’s been a successful fundraiser, a confident debater and she’s 8 years old.

With the 2024 presidential election just days away, students at the School Around Us, a co-learning program for homeschooled students ages 4 to 14 in Arundel, are watching debates and preparing to cast their ballots – for a student president.

They’ll vote Tuesday in an immersive lesson that mirrors the national election.

The School Around Us was founded in 1970. Every student is a registered homeschooler in the state of Maine, and can be enrolled full time or part time in the program. The tradition of the school election is more than 20 years old. Voting is ranked choice, just like many of Maine’s elections. For the past several months, students have been assembling their campaign team, designing posters, reviewing the school constitution and hosting fundraisers.

“I think it’s good that I have a chance for leadership at such a young age,” Avery said in an interview before the debate.

She raised $400 in a bake sale fundraiser. Half will go toward the Kennebunk Food Pantry, and half will fund her campaign promise of a pizza and ice cream party.

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At the beginning of the semester, students nominated others for the presidential race. Every student participates in the process in some way: as a candidate, campaign staffer or journalist. Twelve candidates competed in the primary, but only five remain: Avery; Alfi Boyd, 9; Rose Merrill, 11; Lucy Lukacs, 12; and Callum McCrum, 11. They represent parties like The Potato Party and The Explorers Party.

At a debate Wednesday, they sat at a long table in front of their peers, passing around a microphone. The candidates read opening statements off notecards, then answered hard-hitting questions tackling inclusivity, being a good friend and breaking school rules.

Alfi is promising an expanded makerspace and investments in the playground. He is campaigning on humor, friendship and unique nature activities. Rose said her open-mindedness and spirit of exploration set her apart as a president. Lucy is pitching increased kitchen supplies for the baking studio. And Callum wants more classes that encourage teamwork and critical thinking.

A couple of popular ideas appeared in many answers: interest in a new tetherball (the ball has been missing for months), and a school sleepover.

“One of the things that I promise to do is replace the tetherball,” Lucy said in response to a question about adhering to the school’s value of inclusivity. “I think this will benefit every student. When we had a tetherball, I have seen everyone who wants to play get a turn, and I believe it would benefit SAU by creating another space for kids to connect and have fun.”

Avery Peacock 8, center, hands back the microphone after answering questions while fellow candidate Rose Merrill, 11, right, cheers for Peacock during the mock election debate. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

The winner of the election gets to design two full days of classes. They can put half of their fundraising money toward school improvement projects promised in their campaigns, and can also help steer some decisions about how grant money is spent. They will also get a voice on a weekly school meeting.

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Amy Wentworth is one of the school’s lead educators.  She has experienced six student election cycles and said students learn what the process of candidacy is like, but beyond that, it’s also a good lesson in leadership.

“They sort of shift their attitude toward the school, and I’ve seen kids that maybe before wouldn’t notice something, but now that they’re put in this prospective role, they’re like ‘Oh, that’s not such good behavior, that’s not the best choice,’ and they step up. It’s kind of a natural way to have the students be held accountable for their actions,” Wentworth said. “Because of this experience, they’re put into that position of leadership that is what we would hope for, but because of the election process they take it a step further.”

The actual presidential candidates‘ names are never mentioned in this lesson, but teachers say the election helps students understand what they’re hearing about outside of school, and connect the dots once they’re old enough to vote.

Ruby Alley was chosen as vice president in 2008. Now, she teaches the youngest age group at the School Around Us.

“It taught me more about my own citizenship in the world,” Alley said. Her own election coincided with Barack Obama’s first presidential victory. “It was so powerful to have gone through that process and then be able to see it happening for the country.”

She said the school is broadly focused on civic duty, and this lesson is just one manifestation of that philosophy.

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