In a year where the United States has seen vast racial unrest, a world pandemic, devastating natural disasters, and the passing of an influential Supreme Court justice, political tensions are high. Given these circumstances, the 16 seniors enrolled in the 2020 Elections elective will have much to discuss as the year progresses. 

Every four years, this popular elective appears in the course catalog for one semester. Taught by Upper School history teacher Andrew Bigelow, the class focuses on “both the theoretical as well as the practical,” according to the course description. The course examines the US presidential election, smaller local elections, and the very roots of democracy.

In addition to discussion and reading, students are required to perform at least 10 hours of fieldwork outside of the Zoomroom. In previous years, students’ hands on experience have included canvassing, knocking on doors, and working in campaign offices. However, due to COVID-19, this year students will have to rely more on virtual forms of service such as phone banking, working online for a candidate or initiative, and participating in various forums.

“I think I’m just going to try and split up my time between a specific candidacy like Biden but also a more general organization in order to promote voting,” senior Grace Conrad said. Some students are also experimenting with safe ways to volunteer in person.

“I’ve registered to be an election judge for this upcoming election,” senior Bodie Florsheim said. “I will also be sending postcards to various swing states in favor of the candidate that I prefer to win. So, hopefully that will make a difference.” Bigelow has invited a number of outside organizations to visit the class. Recently, the students were visited by supporters of Gov. Pritzker’s Fair Tax plan, and Bigelow hopes to eventually meet with their opposition. The class will also be working closely with Rock the Vote, a nonprofit organization based in Washington D.C. that encourages the younger generation to vote. In addition, the class is trying to contact with high schoolers in New Jersey to hear different perspectives on the election from students’ point of view. 

Because the class is primarily based on ever-changing news, there is not a set agenda for each day. “I am trying to find the most up to date information, homework assignments, readings and articles and clips,” Bigelow said. “So every day is a brand new day.”

Given the polarized political climate, the course aims to examine multiple perspectives. “We spend a lot of time looking at polls,” Bigelow said. “And so we’ve looked at what’s a conservative poll, a moderate poll, a liberal poll, and what’s an aggregate poll versus a single poll.” This year is Bigelow’s third time teaching the Elections class, after taking it over for former Upper School History teacher Martin Moran in 2008. In 2016, Bigelow also taught a class on the Democratic and Republican primaries. Because the presidential elections happen just once every four years, it’s a rare opportunity for Parker higher schoolers.

Bigelow has specialized goals for the students who are enrolled in the class. “The main goal is just to support the mission of our school, and that is to create lifelong educated, participating citizens,” he said. “And the goal is for these kids to become active in their communities, not only just get out and vote, but to be social justice advocates who have zero tolerance for intolerance and become engaged and spread the wealth of their education to their peers to their families and to make sure that people who do vote are educated.”