November was the culmination of an intense political climate, and the importance of the 2024 election was not lost on Haldane. In the days leading up to the vote, history teachers Jackie McGrath and Kaitlyn Secor organized a mock election in the center of the high school to provide for students an immersive learning experience. Secor said she “wanted it to feel, in a way, like you were voting in person.” Students “registered” with Secor or a senior volunteer by signing their name at a desk beforehand, and every participant received a sticker upon completion. In total, 223 students voted, a 75% voter turnout overall.
Just like a real election, students were asked to elect a president, as well as a candidate for the US Senate; US House of Representatives, District 17; NY Senate, District 39; and NY State Assembly, District 95. However, unlike the real election, this was a popular vote, with no mock electoral college. The Halane high school student body voted overwhelmingly blue, with Harris winning over Trump 73.5%.
“I do think that the results of the mock election reflect your community’s point of view,” Secor said of the outcome. “You guys have been socialized by the community, and so a lot of your opinions and points of view come from living in this community. I think it was pretty accurate and unsurprising.” Students develop their own personal political views based on the political views they are surrounded by– close family and community being the first and foremost influencers.
Despite Harris’ certain win in Haldane High’s mock election, the national election resulted in a victory for the Republican candidate, Donald Trump. I walked around during my lunch period the following day, November 6, to get verbal reactions from our student body.
“I really did not see this coming,” said Corinna Mueller, sophomore. “I had a lot of hope during the summer, and I just know August me would be absolutely devastated to hear what has happened. I know that I’m going to be okay, but I’m just so sad for all the women [in other states] that are just going to have their rights stripped away from them by old men.” Near Sevilla, a junior, had a similar response. “I think it’s ridiculous that people would rather vote for a convicted felon than a woman,” Sevilla said. “I’m worried. I’m seriously worried for our future and our kids’ future.”. Eight other students I talked to that day expressed similar fear and shock. Combined with the knowledge of how our in-school election went, it can be assumed that the general sentiments of the school aligned with these students’ reactions.
However, there were a few outliers who expressed satisfaction with the real election’s outcome. “I’m feeling pretty happy, and relieved,” sophomore Jaiden Gunther said. “I think that hopefully we can stop inflation and we can get a better economic policy, and we can stop World War III… hopefully figure out, as a country, a better solution to abortion rights.” At another table, a lively discussion was occurring. “We’re feeling great!” Sophomore David Powlis said. “Everyone here is feeling amazing.” However, not all of his table mates agreed. “We were just having a debate,” one of his friends amended. “A pretty heated one, too.”
The question of how to navigate relationships with friends with different political views has been on many Haldane students’ minds. While the mock election produced very blue results, there have been intense discussions occurring in hallways and classrooms over the real election’s results. With two starkly different candidates competing for the same office in our deeply polarized country, it is unsurprising that such political intensity has trickled down into our student body, no matter how blue Haldane may swing.
In a political climate as intense as America’s, discussing politics even in writing can be difficult for many. This was evident in the scant responses to a digital survey which I sent out to every grade’s history teacher asking the student body how they felt about the national election results, and what they predicted for these next four years. Allowed to answer either anonymously or named, the survey garnered only 11 responses total, despite the high voter turnout during the mock election. Of these 11, seven were anonymous. In the mock election, only the teachers knew for certain who voted for which candidates, which served as a safety blanket for students against possible judgement from their peers. On top of that, students don’t have to justify their decisions while voting all they have to do is check the box next to their chosen candidate. My survey, however, required students to both state their opinion and explain their reasoning behind it. This is a daunting and exposing task, and so the low number of participants in the survey– most of whom were anonymous–is understandable. While conducting face-to-face interviews, several students I approached declined to give a statement as well.
Of the students who did answer the survey, abortion rights were once again amongst the concerns. “I’m scared for our future,” began one anonymous young woman. “Especially as a girl…I’m worried for my future choices of my own body, and what will happen to families and young girls who have had their life torn apart by rape.”
“Being a girl is especially scary now due to the uptick in men feeling too comfortable with saying ‘your body, my choice,’” wrote another anonymous student, referring to a viral meme coined by far-right provocateur Nick Fuentes and to the general increase in online harassment, threats, and sexism towards women immediately following the election. This increase was reported in a study done by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and discussed in several news outlets after the election including CNN. The anonymous student continued, “I hope that [Trump] does not do too many horrible things while in his term, but you never know. It is highly upsetting seeing how people put gas prices over human rights.”
Also discussed by student respondents was the future of foreign conflicts and the rights of immigrants. “I am a Democrat,” freshman Eli Hudson stated in his survey response, “meaning I’m not particularly happy with the newest election…I’m worried for the future of this nation, for the future of Ukraine…and I’m worried about what will happen to people who have been in this nation for decades, paid their taxes, worked here, but are illegal.”
“[Trump will stop funding for Ukraine because he will suck up to Putin,” A third anonymous student predicted. “Biden and Harris were going to fix immigration with a border bill, but Donald Trump told Congress to block it. America just screwed up.”
Students also wrote about their fears for the Department of Education, the Department of Health, and LGBTQ+ rights, citing Project 2025, Trump’s picks for department heads, and Trump’s political history as the source of their concerns. Out of these 11 respondents, only one student, who also remained anonymous, expressed support for the Trump administration, writing: “I thought it went well.”
Haldane students are fortunate enough to receive a rigorous history education in a politically active town. Such a combination of education and community values has produced politically-minded students who are eager to contribute to the conversation. As the country transitions into a new presidential administration, Haldane students should continue to keep themselves informed and involved with the happenings of our country. and treat each other with civility and decency in and out of the classroom.
