By Zachary Burd ’19, Staff Writer

Walking down the sixth grade hallway, a Newark Academy student will hear the buzz of gossip and the rabble of conversation.  The student will also hear the constant political debates and will see lines of sixth graders marching up and down the hall saying such humorous chants as:

“No more benevolence, only malevolence!”

“Together, we shall overthrow the student council!”

“James Blume for malevolent dictator!”

As these may be jokes, the political nature behind them is real. The sixth grade at Newark Academy, just as the rest of the school, is actually quite political.

Just why is the sixth grade so political? Ms. Sparacino, a sixth grade Humanities teacher, believes, “the influx of political awareness is due to the technology and social media middle schoolers have access to, like Instagram.”  The increased number of students watching news shows on television also expands political awareness and interest in students. “Too much FOX news,” Ms. Sparacino quipped.

One way students can become involved in politics is to become politicians themselves, by running for student council. A candidate develops the skills of speech writing and campaigning and the experience of being a leader. Newark Academy politics are displayed all over the middle school hallway, and are a great presence in a middle schooler’s life. Whether it be the posters and the platforms taped on the wall or the campaign managers saying their candidate’s catchy slogan over and over again, such as that of sixth grader David You, “Vote David You! A vote for You is a vote for you!” politics are influential at the Academy. They get everyone involved and active, from the campaign managers to the candidates to the voters.

Another aspect of politics for a middle schooler are those of the real world; Democrats and Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives, the Donkeys and the Elephants. Many sixth graders are either a donkey or an elephant at heart. Real world politics also play a big role in a middle schooler’s life. Exemplified by the shouting matches of an ultra-democrat and an ultra-republican at lunch, students are very involved in politics.  They are also informed on modern issues.  Such cries as,  “Lower the deficit!” “Tax the millionaires!” “Lower taxes!” “Background checks are stupid!” all show the sixth grader’s educated nature.

Were sixth graders always as political as they are now? Ms. Sparacino believes that “sixth graders come in with political ideas and interests, but the school and the environment supported and developed these interests into what they are now.” The school has clubs, such as Law Club, that talk about politics, mock elections where sixth graders pretend to be a presidential candidate, and presentations that teach students about politics, and the Humanities department certainly stresses awareness on political issues.

The sixth grade is truly quite political. There are Newark Academy politics and real-world politics, and school is a great place to debate personal political views. Everywhere one goes, one will see sixth graders discussing politics, from the classroom to the gym to the cafeteria to the bus. Passion for politics is a great thing, for it will help students succeed later in life. But for now, the sixth grade is content to fool around, as kids do, and promote James Blume for malevolent dictator.