ESCONDIDO: Students spar in proposition debate

Four high schools participate at council chambers

By ELENA CRISTIANO - For the North County Times | Thursday, October 23, 2008 11:10 PM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- Voters got to hear a different perspective on the election's various state propositions Thursday evening as high school students from around the area faced off in a spirited debate.

Teens from Escondido, Mission Hills, San Pasqual and Valley Center high schools took part in the forum at the Escondido City Council chambers.

"Our whole goal is to educate voters," said Margaret Liles, board member of the League of Women Voters of Escondido and Neighboring Communities, the nonpartisan political group that organized the event. "We think it's a great idea to get started early."

Makayla Hoppe, an 18-year old senior from San Pasqual High School, agreed.

"As high-schoolers get older, we break away from our parents," said Hoppe. "Whether it's in agreement with our families or not, we are now forming our own, independent opinions."

And opinions were flying. As is often the case around the rest of the state, the arguments over Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban, were especially heated.

The audience murmured as voices were raised and both sides occasionally interrupted each other.

"This whole separate-but-equal argument reminds me of Jim Crow," said Erik Oas of San Pasqual, whose team argued against Prop. 8.

"Fair?" questioned Anthony Carandang of Escondido High, the pro-Prop. 8 team. "Is it fair for the court to overturn 61 percent of Californians?"

Moderator Patrick Coony, an administrative law judge and League of Women Voters voter services director, kept things in order. He wondered out loud whether the debate over the issue would ever be resolved and concluded by saying, "We'll see."

He also complimented the panel members on their passion throughout what was described as an "invigorating and informative" debate.

"I can't imagine any panel discussing these issues with more vigor than you, at this age," said Coony.

Six of the 11 propositions on the general election ballot were argued. Also debated were Proposition 1A, Bonds for High Speed Rails; Proposition 2, Treatment of Farm Animals; Proposition 4, Parental Notification of a Minor's Abortion; Proposition 5, Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation; and Proposition 11, Redistricting.

Ron Ventimiglia, the Valley Center High School advance placement American government teacher who organized his school's team, said that the forum was a great way to get kids more involved in the political process.

"It forces them to look deeper into the propositions and see that the way they appear on the surface isn't always what they seem," said Ventimiglia. He added that it teaches his students to "not just look at the signs and decide."

Participants included Hoppe, Oas, Bijan Bootorabi, Aaron Kash, Zachary Kash, Bailey Wilson, Kristen Scalese, Julia Smith and Dylan Tweed from San Pasqual High School; Carandang, Chris Coats, Justin Frankel, Kenny Hua, Ilija Cupurdija, Alex Ralph and Rosie Mae Henson of Escondido High School; Daniel Cruz, Nick Parillo and Ashleigh Valenti of Mission Hills High School; and Samantha Carr, Kyle Kraincock, Nia Kiesow, Doris Morgan, Robby Bryson and Michael Potter of Valley Center High School.

Elena Cristiano is a freelance writer for the North County Times.