In the moments after a recent election, it is hard to view the issue without bias. But 20/20 hindsight provides very good analysis upon the question of whether or not school democracy really works. This author feels that the answer to the question is a resounding no.

Most school elections are mainly popularity contests. Whoever knows the most people, no matter who they are, will win. It doesn't matter if you are the dumbest person in the school, who can't get anything done right, if you know the most people you will win. School elections aren't based on intelligence and organization; they are based on pure social skills. Let's take for instance this scenario. Two people are running for the same position. One is extremely intelligent, but somewhat lacking in social grace. The other is a hot ass girl who can't count to 10 without her toes. The girl wins and we've been let down by the democratic process.

The problem with the democratic school system is that all the votes count the same. An honors kid's vote counts just as much as a BSI kid's vote. In the US we have a federal republic in which the ELECTORAL COLLEGE elects the president. The popular vote is just a guide for how the electoral college should vote. This system is in place just to stop the situation above from ever happening. If the school voted as homeroom blocks or have teachers vote based on credentials, we may get more things done as a class and as a school.

Another reason why school democracy is a crock is that there is no way of telling whether or not a candidate will do well in the office they were elected into. There's no debate, no negative campaigning, nothing that's in a real election. There is a one minute speech time which gives the candidate about as much time to crack a joke and tell people to vote for them. All the substance is lacking from a real election.

These elections are extremely important in the lives of the students whether they realize or not. I just don't want to see people complaining because their prom is in the gym and the DJ is a student's car.