Ewing students learn about political parties

Joan Wheeler, left, and Gayle Phillips spoke to Ewing students about the Republican and Democrat parties.

Ewing Middle students will know the difference between a Republican and a Democrat when election results are reported Tuesday.

The students’ knowledge will extend beyond the political advertisements and messages by individual candidates thanks to the efforts of Cherokee County Republican Party Chairwoman Joan Wheeler and Democratic Party Chairwoman Gayle Phillips. At the invitation of Ewing Middle teacher Amy Breckenridge, the two party bosses spoke to seventh graders about their political parties this month.

Tom Breckenridge, Amy’s husband, spoke to students about the Libertarian Party. Libertarians believe the answer to America’s political problems is the same commitment to freedom that earned America its greatness through a free market economy, civil liberties, non-intervention, peace and free trade.

Students have been learning about the political process, political parties and voter registration during a month-long study about elections. The school held a mock election Thursday.

“A lot of students have been asking about the difference between a Republican and Democrat. We thought it would be a neat idea to have someone from the local political parties speak to the students and answer their questions,” Breckenridge said. “It’s important for students to become informed about the political process at an early age. These students are all going to have the opportunity to vote in the future. It’s important they understand what this means.”

The Democratic Party is the older of the two parties, dating back to the 1800s.

Known in its early days as “the party of the common man,” Phillips said she disagrees with Republicans frequent labeling of today’s Democrats as liberals.

“The Democrats often have the reputation as the giveaway party,” Phillips said. “I think Democrats are the more compassionate party.”

The Republican Party was born in the early 1850s. The first meeting was held in Ripon, Wisconsin.

“The Republicans are about personal responsibility. We want people to take responsibility for themselves by getting an education, getting a job and taking care of themselves,” Wheeler said. “We don’t think the government should do those things for them.”

The symbol of the Republican Party is the elephant and a donkey has come to be associated with Democrats.

During the midterm elections of 1874, Democrats tried to scare voters into thinking President Ulysses Grant would seek to run for an unprecedented third term. Thomas Nast, a cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly, showed a Democratic donkey attempting to scare a Republican elephant - and both symbols stuck.