The 2016 Election and the Media

It’s Election Day at Unity High School. Students will vote today at 1 PM for Student Council President. Two candidates are running, Hillary and Donald. The teachers are not supposed to be involved or have a preference. But, most of the teachers prefer Hillary. Actually only 2 teachers like Donald: Sean and Kelly.

The students have to report to the auditorium at 12. They have to take their seats. They can eat their lunch while waiting for the stage to get prepared for voting.

Teacher #1(Whispering): I know we are not supposed to get involved but I hate that Donald kid. I can’t help myself. I have to do something.

Teacher#2: Me too. If we start talking to each other the students might hear us and we can convince them to vote for Hillary.
#1: But they are all wearing headphones!
#2: Maybe if we talk loud enough some might hear.
#1 (now louder): Have you heard about Donald’s latest scandal?
#2: Of Course. It’s been all over the news.
#1: Do you think the students know about it?
#2: I think most of them know.

Now louder

#1: YOU THINK IT MAY AFFECT THEIR VOTES?
#2: OF COURSE. IT’S A HUGE SCANDAL. I AM SURE IT IS OBVIOUS TO THE STUDENTS (wink) THAT THIS A VERY BIG DEAL. THEY CAN ALL SENSE THAT. I AM SURE.

Gradually all the other teachers join in the yelling except for Sean and Kelly who like Donald.

But now they also try to yell louder over the other teachers. They also have to pretend that they are having a teachers’ discussion not a campaign event.

WELL I AM SURE THEY HEARD ABOUT HILLARY’S SCANDALS TOO.

I AM SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THOSE ARE A BIGGER DEAL.

OUR STUDENTS ARE SO SMART AND INFORMED. THIS WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

Their voices are drowned by the other teachers. The yelling is now so loud you can’t hear anything.

The students on the other hand have noise cancelling headphones. None of them seems phased by the discussion. Watching them you would think that they either don’t care about these scandals or can’t hear a thing.

All the teachers agree on one thing. It is going to be a difficult decision for every student. They will have to weigh all the scandals. They will hesitate. It will be a very slow election. It will take all afternoon.

At 1 PM the students take off their headphones and vote. The voting is done in minutes. Students seem to know so well who they want to vote for.

The winner is Donald!

Post-election analysis in the teachers’ lounge.

There is consensus among the teachers. The students are telling us something! It is so obvious! It is obvious to all the teachers that the students were swayed by Sean and Kelly talking about Hillary’s scandals more than they were swayed by all the other teachers.