The Harpeth Hall School • 3801 Hobbs Road • Nashville, Tennessee
LOGOS August 14, 2019 • Volume 42 • Number 1
Students seize campaigning opportunities BY DEVON CAMPBELL & SELA ANDREWS News Editors
This summer many Harpeth Hall students worked on local political campaigns, culminating in the Aug. 1 Nashville general elections for mayor, vice mayor and 40 metro council positions. As the city’s primary legislative body, the Metro Council is responsible for making or amending city laws, adopting a city budget, levying taxes and approving people appointed to boards and commissions by the mayor. In 7 of the 35 council districts in Nashville, no candidate was able to secure the required fifty percent plus one of the votes because more than two people ran. As a result, the top two candidates from each of these districts will compete again on Sept. 12 in the runoff election. Some in the Nashville community are unaware of the Metro Council’s responsibilities and accomplishments. Councilwoman Angie Henderson, mother of senior Eleanor Henderson and incumbent representative of District 34, which includes Harpeth Hall, cited “improved sidewalk and tree planting requirements” and “increased scrutiny and awareness about development incentives, such as tax increment financing” as recent achievements of the Metro Council. Councilman Bob Mendes, father of junior Claire Mendes and senior Katie Mendes, won reelection for his position in one of the five at large seats, which represent Nashville in its entirety rather than a single district. He earned nearly 11% of the vote, which was enough to secure his seat.
HAPPY FOURTH: Councilwoman Angie Henderson speaks with constituents on the Fourth of July at the Oak Hill parade with her daughter, senior Eleanor Henderson. Photo by Stacy Widelitz.
Now there are eight candidates vying for the remaining four seats during the September runoff. Eleanor Henderson was active during the election, knocking over 900 doors as a campaign assistant for her mother’s reelection campaign. “It is interesting to meet new people every day. I have learned to think and speak on my feet; I have learned to listen and understand why certain people believe what they believe and say what they say,” Eleanor Henderson said. “You’ve got people who are far right, far left, and everything in between; there is a wide spectrum of people who make up Nashville.” Four Harpeth Hall students helped
Eleanor canvass for Angie Henderson’s campaign: seniors Sela Andrews, LC Essary, Martha Grace Abel and Ellie Frist. “Local politics are supposed to be nonpartisan. But when I went up to doors, it was often ‘Is [Angie] a Democrat or a Republican?’ It tells me how important it is to understand local government,” Eleanor Henderson said. “It also tells me a lot about where we are as a nation, and how this party polarization has trickled down into local elections. We should make decisions about candidates based on their policy platform, not what party they are.” The mayor serves as the city’s chief executive, and is responsible for budget proposals, appointing department
directors, and signing legislation into law. Following Megan Barry’s resignation from office after pleading guilty to felony theft charges, Vice-Mayor David Briley took over her role and then was formally elected to the position 15 months ago. The August mayoral election resulted in At Large Councilman John Cooper leading with 35% of the votes, followed by incumbent Mayor Briley with 25%. Because neither won the majority, the mayoral election will also be determined in the Sept. 12 runoff. “I worked early voting polls, about 4-to6 hours a day and on election day,” senior Margaret Bone said. “I got to talk with David Briley; I just feel like local elections are much more personal than national ones. Since I can’t vote, I feel like it gives me the opportunity to directly participate in democracy.” Senior Margaret Kirchner worked for At Large Council incumbent Burkley Allen. “It was interesting and I learned a lot more about how our city works and how many organizations are involved in politics,” Kirchner said. “It felt like I was actually making a difference. I would recommend it to anyone because it gives you a better handle on how our government works outside of the classroom.” As in any election, voter turnout is critical. Only 2% of 18-24-year-olds voted in these Nashville elections, despite this demographic making up 13% of the population. For those of voting age, early runoff voting starts Aug. 30 and concludes on Sept. 7 and election day is Sept. 12.
New committee to kick-start civic engagement at HH BY JANET BRIGGS News Editor
With national and local elections under way, the faculty of Harpeth Hall has formed a committee to propose curriculum changes and encourage civic engagement within the student body. They want to inspire more effective discussion by understanding various viewpoints rather than silencing less popular opinions. This comes in response to polarized reactions in the Harpeth Hall community to the 2016 presidential election. Many members of the faculty felt that the aftermath of the election was not handled effectively and left students feeling unwelcome to participate because of their opinions. “We want to create safe spaces for ideas, not from ideas,” Upper School social
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science Part of teacher Tony these shifts Springman may include and English a change to teacher Joe the 9th grade Croker said. history class. The goal is “We want to promote to work in more more of what inclusive we think is discussion missing in techniques our current into existing social humanities science classes, both DISCUSSION, NOT DEBATE: (From left to right) Teachers Joe Croker, curriculum, Bonnie Moses and Tony Springman meet on Friday, Aug. 9 to consider courses in primarily the curriculum changes to increase civic engagement. Many changes will be English foundations implemented this school year. Photo by Caroline Frederiksen, Photography Editor. and social of the US sciences, to welcome more views in the government system,” Adrianne Jacobs, classroom. Upper School social science teacher, said.
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“We are going to shift the focus of that class towards the deep history of that system.” Another part of this initiative is proposing new electives that focus on civic duty. These electives would complement the existing AP US Government class. Encouraging girls to lead confidently and be comfortable discussing difficult topics is the main focus of the proposed elective. These changes to promote a more supportive environment for all viewpoints to be expressed come in preparation for the upcoming national elections. Faculty hope to make the Harpeth Hall classroom environment empowering for all perspectives and conducive to more dynamic discussions.
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