First Posted: 2/13/2015
EXETER TWP. — Students in Sheila Murtha’s fourth-grade class at Sarah J. Dymond Elementary School are aware there will be no school on Monday, Feb. 16.
“It’s Presidents Day and it’s also George Washington’s birthday,” said one student.
Another student quickly chimed in, saying he knows who the current president is.
“Barack Obama is our current president and he makes the laws and sleeps in the White House,” said the student.
The students were then faced with a tough question, although to them, the answer was simple: Who would be a better president, Mom or Dad?
Without hesitation, the answers of “Mom” or “Dad” were all shouted in unison and reasons were given as to why one or the other would make a good president.
“My mom, she’s not the best at telling people what to do,” said 9-year-old Delaney Capitano, who favored his dad for the spot. “You could be like, ‘Do this, do this and do this,’ and my mom will be all ‘OK.’”
Matthew Stepanski, 9, said Dad gets his vote, because Dad is a man in charge.
“My dad, he tells people what to do a lot,” said Stepanski. “That’s pretty much why.”
A lot of arguments in favor of Dad were about how he is an authoritative figure in the household, or as 10-year-old Hamed Al-Salem pointed out, “He fixes things.”
While some gave good reasons for Dad, it’s hard to argue against those favoring Mom, too.
Annabella Cotto, 9, would give her mom her vote to be president because of her superior decision-making skills.
“I’d say my mom because, my dad, he isn’t the best at thinking,” said Cotto. “He’s going to predict that it’s going to rain gumballs or something.”
Dallas Woodruff, 10, said her mom is skilled at taking charge.
“My mom is just very good at leadership,” said Woodruff. “She’s very quick-thinking.”
“Your dad jokes around a lot,” a student said in response to Woodruff’s answer.
Students also voted to put other family members in charge of the country.
Brianna Charney, 10, gave her aunt the nod for president, as opposed to her uncle.
“I think my aunt because my uncle jokes about almost everything he says,” said Charney with a giggle. “He just can’t be serious or hold a straight face.”
Being fun and adventurous is a great characteristic one would look for in a president, at least according to 9-year-old Jakiyah Spellman.
“(My uncle) takes me out and he takes me to places I’ve never been before,” said Spellman.
Students also offered which grandparent would make a better president. Grandma received a lot of votes.
Madison Day, 9, said her grandmother would get her vote because she lives by herself and takes care of herself just fine.
“My pop pop died a couple years ago and she has learned to live by herself for about two years now,” said Day.
Ryan Bonin, 10, voted for his grandma because she’s been taking care of his grandpa as he recovers from knee surgery.
Grandpa got some love, though, getting a vote from 10-year-old Billy Sorkin because his grandfather “does everything perfect.”
Ariana Campbell, 9, shifted the focus back to grandma, saying hers rules the roost in her family.
“My grandma is the boss of the house,” said Campbell. “My grandpa is just always lazy.”
