Is the Homecoming voting system adequate? Con: Homecoming needs big changes

By Krista Roberts
Staff Writer

With such a talented and accomplished senior class, it is difficult to elect only 12 to the 2011 Homecoming Court.

As part of Mira Costa tradition, a system of student voting has been used to select which students will be on court. In theory, this procedure chooses students based on their contributions to the school and community. However, the process only allows students to vote, excluding the opinions of teachers and administrators and eliminating perspectives teachers may have of their students in the classroom.

To select Homecoming court, a list of nominees is first presented to ASB. Clubs and selected electives each hold a supervised election to nominate one boy and one girl; clubs with over 60 people are allowed four nominees total. A list of nominees is created, and all seniors and juniors vote for up to six boys and six girls.

The Homecoming Court should represent the very best of the senior class, with nominees well-respected among the teachers as well as the students. Teachers are often well informed of students’ extracurricular activities and sports, and, therefore, could contribute valid opinions to the nomination process.

Selection of the court should not be like that of the Student of the Year, with too much teacher consideration and emphasis on grades.

However, if every teacher was given a ballot like the rest of the upperclassmen, it would ensure the selection of 12 students that are not only respected by their peers but also their instructors.

Teachers can either simply be included in the overall vote, or the election process could be divided up. Teachers could select two of the nominees, while the students select the remaining 10. Either way, teachers would have a voice without changing the purpose of the court.

In addition, only upperclassmen are allowed to vote. Instead of receiving 12 votes like the upperclassmen, underclassmen could vote for six of the nominees. The court members are meant to be leaders and examples for underclassmen; therefore, they should have a voice.

With a Homecoming Court chosen by both students and teachers, a well-rounded group of students would be chosen to represent  each senior class. These nominees would reflect the views of the entire student body and the faculty, instead of just those of juniors and seniors.