Caitlyn Gibbons will make her voice heard in the upcoming presidential election when she hits the polls Tuesday, Nov. 8, the day after her 18th birthday.
Wyoming Area and Pittston Area high school social studies classes have been keeping up with the latest news on this year’s presidential election, even though some of the language used by candidates might be considered controversial in a classroom setting.
Gibbons admitted she’s not a fan of either candidate due to how they handled themselves during the debates.
“They just danced around all of the questions and made cheap shots at each other the whole time,” said the 17-year-old Wyoming Area student.
However, Gibbons knows a choice must be made, and she gave her nod towards Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
“If Hillary wins that’s a big step I’ll get to see because she’ll be the first woman president,” she said. “If (Republican nominee Donald) Trump wins, I’m scared to see how he’ll act with other foreign leaders.”
Keeping up with the election has been a primary task for Wyoming Area Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics teacher Lisa Day, as well as Pittston Area Political Science teacher Gennaro Zangardi.
Though Zangardi’s freshmen class can’t vote, he said the process is still an important lesson for students to learn.
“It’s essential,” he said. “I try to implore to them that, yeah, they’re 15, but this election and these policies and the way these candidates are is going to affect them, possibly for the rest of their lives if not most of their adult lives.”
The two teachers have been discussing the election with students since their respective school years began with assignments such as watching the debates, discussing both candidates and submitting papers on students’ chosen candidate.
Pittston Area freshman Jim Murphy, 15, said that watching the debates has helped him get a better understanding about the candidates and who he would choose to be president.
“I support Hillary a lot more after watching that just because of the way Trump acts,” he said.
Multiple topics about the election include the harsh language both candidates have used, including when Clinton described Trump supporters using terms such as “racist,” “sexist,” “homophobic” and other strong words. There is also the controversy in which Clinton deleted over 30,000 classified emails when she was Secretary of State.
Trump has made headlines with his derogatory remarks towards women and military veterans as well as calling the election rigged.
Both teachers have tackled the subjects head-on with their students.
“We’ve been talking about how both candidates have their flaws and they’re all coming out at inopportune times,” said Wyoming Area senior Peter Butera, 17. “I think going into the election everyone kind of expected it.”
Pittston Area freshman Megan Hopkins, 14, still supports Clinton, saying she owned up to her mistakes.
“I feel like both candidates have baggage behind them, but I feel Donald Trump’s are worse because he doesn’t own up to it,” she said. “Hillary at least knows she was wrong.”
Talking about the controversies, Day said, is something that is easier to go over than trying to avoid it all together.
“It’s hard not to just sit back and say, ‘I can’t believe these are the candidates,’ and these are the types of discussions I have to have during my class,” she said. “You try not to be biased, but it’s very difficult especially when you’re teaching about the government and a government that has changed. Still, these are two candidates that have done things that are not great.”
With the election upcoming, some students from both schools know who they would vote for if they could.
Murphy and Hopkins both said he would vote for Clinton. Fellow Pittston Area freshmen Michalie Mazurkivich, 14, and Leah Hodick, 15, agreed.
“Hillary Clinton was the Secretary of State,” said Mazurkivich, “Donald Trump is a business man who had a reality TV show.”
“I prefer Hillary over Trump because I like her policies better,” said Hodick. “I remember reading something about Trump posting something on Twitter a while ago and then lying about it. I don’t want that type of person as president.”
Gibbons and Butera are both on Clinton’s side as are fellow Wyoming Area seniors Erin Ainsworth, 17; Leah Moore, 17; and Emily Yuritz, 18.
“(Hillary) has good life experience,” said Moore.
“She’s the better of two evils,” said Yuritz.
“To be honest, I feel (Hillary) is more mentally sane,” said Ainsworth. ” I don’t think that (Trump) would be fit to be president. I think she has the experience and is more professional.”
