Checking their political barometers

Deirdre Newman

Seniors in Bob Hiles’ advanced placement government class at

Corona del Mar High School found out last week whether they lean to

the right or the left -- politically speaking.

The exercise involved students taking an ideological survey and a

political spectrum test online, and then checking if their political

philosophy translated to a political party.

Since many of the questions had “yes” and “no” answers -- which do

not leave a lot of room for middle ground -- the assignment enabled

students to see the limitations of surveys. This underscored an

earlier discussion about polling and how the technique is not

necessarily an accurate means of gauging public opinion, Hiles said.

“How the question is worded can alter the answer,” Hiles said.

The surveys also illustrated to these future voters that they may

be aligned with one political party on certain issues and another

party on other issues.

That split was made evident to Marty Glyer, 17, who found after

taking one survey that his party proclivities are 33% Democratic, 30%

Republican and 38% Green.

“I didn’t realize I was so Green,” Marty said. “[The survey] asked

questions that I hadn’t really thought of. Then when I thought about

them, they fell in line with the rest of my political beliefs.”

Joe Klunder, 17, said he disagreed with the results he was given

after taking one of the surveys that showed students what part of the

country is most aligned with their political beliefs.

“I should be in the Northwest,” Joe said. “It says I’m liberal

here, but I don’t believe that. I think I’m more conservative than

these tests say.”

Joe attributed the discrepancy to the invalidity of the survey

because of its limited questions.

“Because some people at this age feel there should be more freedom

of speech and are liberal, a lot of the survey was about freedom of

speech.”

But Joe wasn’t the only one who was surprised to see how liberal

his beliefs were, Hiles said.

“Some of the conservative kids were upset that they didn’t come

across as conservative as they thought so that’s when we got into

splitting hairs,” Hiles said.

Another of the surveys showed the students where they fit in

between Democratic and Republican leaders.

Cameron Pospisil, 17, found himself wedged between Ted Kennedy and

Hillary Clinton.

“I’m a liberal guy,” Cameron said, agreeing with the survey’s

verdict.

Cameron said the surveys helped him and other students mold their

own political ideals instead of taking a cue from their parents.

“It gives you an idea of being an individual,” Cameron said.

“Instead of just saying, ‘My parents are Democrat, so I am,’ you know

where you stand.”

* IN THE CLASSROOM is a weekly feature in which Daily Pilot

education writer Deirdre Newman visits a campus in the Newport-Mesa

area and writes about her experience.