What kids want from a president

By MIKE JAMES
The Independent

ASHLAND January 15, 2009 11:35 pm

— President-elect Barack Obama may think he has enough to wrestle with already: A tanking economy, two wars that have been dragging on for years, a broken health care system, global warming and a still-polarized Congress.
But some students at Crabbe Elementary were more than willing to add a few more imperatives to his list.
The Independent asked pupils in the first, third and sixth grades for some suggestions about what Obama could do for children. Here’s what they came up with.
First grade
“He should be nice to (kids) and let them know what they’re supposed to do.” Dauntier Marsey
“The new president should do for kids to care for them and tell them how they should act.” Adrianna Riggs
“The new president should show the kids how to be good.” Riley Riggs
“He should make other kids mind.” Aries Lauhon
“He’s for the poor man.” Tyler Knox
“Make papers and books for our school.” Lachlan Fannin
“I want him to help us do stuff and homework.” Keagan Baier
Other first-graders thought maybe Obama could help them learn to read and fix the puzzles in their classroom. They also came up with some good names for the dog Obama has promised his daughters: Rover, Max, Brownie, Cupcake, Jake or George Washington.
Third grade
Some of the studetns in third grade were interested in checkbook issues while others kept the focus on school.
“I want him to put taxes down. We will have a little money. My mom will have a little money.” Michael Johnson
“Help kids on the street. There are people and kids on the street.” Nya Blake
“Obama should close schools for a year. I’d read at home and have more fun.” Billy Kouns
“If we had bank accounts for kids so we can buy stuff. And free toys.” Aroq Colburn
“Make more schools because the poor people that don’t have schools, they can go to school.” Jayda Coleman
“Help kids stay in school and go to college and get good educations.” Hannah Stone
“Give kids more education at school by giving kids books.” Earl Stephen
The third-graders also wanted to get in on the dog naming game. Some of their choices were Jaguar, Bullet, Cocoa, Dukie, Ivana, Rocky and Chocolate Chip.
Sixth grade
Once in the sixth grade, children start to make some serious demands on their president.
Maya McKenzie, who, by the way, is class president, called for reform of the No Child Left Behind Act. Specifically, some federal dollars, she said. “When George Bush tried it, it didn’t work out very well.”
And her classmates:
“Have freedom for at least half an hour for schools. We could have recess, instead of lunch being the only free time. We could go outside and talk to our friends.” Daniel Miller
“For schools that can’t afford something, he should give them better books and computers. Some schools can’t afford heaters. He should repair some schools that are halfway falling down. Dondrea Carter
“The price of lunch should be lowered, then everybody would have all the school supplies they need and be ready for the school year.” Dylan Rankin
“All lunches should be free because that’s one thing that’s one of the healthiest meals of the day.” Matthew Chappelle
“They should have a kids’ hospital and they should have four meals a day and should have two exercise places, one inside and one outside so kids could get exercise even when they’re in the hospital.” Robbie Tackette
“President-Elect Obama should bring back the troops from Iraq so kids can see their parents.” Tristan Hill
“We should be able to have acting and dancing classes at school because some kids like to dance and act.” Clay Patterson
“He should help with books, computers and supplies. Some families are starting to lose their jobs.” Quenton Radford
Dog names? They’ve got some too. George, Martin, Willie, George Washington, Taft, Benjamin, Michael Jordan or Laughie.
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.

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