March 1, 2007
Blair junior selected as SMOB candidate
Blair junior Will Bucher is one of two candidates in the countywide Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) election to be held in April. Student delegates from Montgomery County high schools and middle schools selected Bucher and Walter Johnson junior Ben Moskowitz for the SMOB candidacy at the 30th SMOB nominating convention this afternoon.
The three preliminary candidates - Bucher, Moskowitz and Blake junior Chris Yates - opened the convention with prepared speeches outlining their respective platforms. Bucher's main platform focused on direct student action in response to unsatisfactory school policies, as opposed to empty negotiations between students and staff. Moskowitz's extended platform included creating a teacher evaluation system similar to that of Montgomery College and adding driver's ed to the MCPS curriculum while Yates' platform included smaller class sizes and expanding the SMOB's voting rights.
Blair senior Terence McPherson, president of the Montgomery County Region (MCR) of the Maryland Association of Student Councils, hosted a closed question and answer session with the candidates. Candidates answered questions on topics pre-selected by the MCR Special Election Committee, including diversity in MCPS. Bucher said that while MCPS is one of the highest-testing counties in the nation, county schools do not do enough to minimize the discrepancy between the suspension of black students and that of white students.
The closed question and answer session was then expanded into a forum, with student delegates free to ask the candidates questions.
Bucher views Moskowitz as good competition and hopes to win over Yates' supporters. "I think now that Chris Yates [is not running]," he said, "I can begin appealing to a voting bloc that was previously unavailable to me."
Bucher believes his participation in extracurricular activities gives him an insight into the MCPS educational system that he will bring with him to the Board of Education if elected. He is confident in his chances to become Blair's fourth SMOB, joining John Foubert (SMOB 1985-1986), Shervin Pishevar (1991-1992) and Sebastian Johnson (2005-2006). "I am confident that I will make it to the boardroom," he said.
Election day is April 25 for all MCPS high school students.
The three preliminary candidates - Bucher, Moskowitz and Blake junior Chris Yates - opened the convention with prepared speeches outlining their respective platforms. Bucher's main platform focused on direct student action in response to unsatisfactory school policies, as opposed to empty negotiations between students and staff. Moskowitz's extended platform included creating a teacher evaluation system similar to that of Montgomery College and adding driver's ed to the MCPS curriculum while Yates' platform included smaller class sizes and expanding the SMOB's voting rights.
Blair senior Terence McPherson, president of the Montgomery County Region (MCR) of the Maryland Association of Student Councils, hosted a closed question and answer session with the candidates. Candidates answered questions on topics pre-selected by the MCR Special Election Committee, including diversity in MCPS. Bucher said that while MCPS is one of the highest-testing counties in the nation, county schools do not do enough to minimize the discrepancy between the suspension of black students and that of white students.
The closed question and answer session was then expanded into a forum, with student delegates free to ask the candidates questions.
Bucher views Moskowitz as good competition and hopes to win over Yates' supporters. "I think now that Chris Yates [is not running]," he said, "I can begin appealing to a voting bloc that was previously unavailable to me."
Bucher believes his participation in extracurricular activities gives him an insight into the MCPS educational system that he will bring with him to the Board of Education if elected. He is confident in his chances to become Blair's fourth SMOB, joining John Foubert (SMOB 1985-1986), Shervin Pishevar (1991-1992) and Sebastian Johnson (2005-2006). "I am confident that I will make it to the boardroom," he said.
Election day is April 25 for all MCPS high school students.
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GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!
we don't support you
what exactly are you trying to say?
Will knew more about board decisions and what not than either of the other two candidates, including moskowitz, although he was the only of the three who hadn't been involved in MCR.
I was even impressed, the boys got this won, and rightfully. Liberal is definitely not a fool for supporting him.
I'm sure you are aware that Will did not go on the Wallops Island field trip because he refused to sign his name on the permission form as Will, but instead wanted to sign as "Rooster" (the rational behind this will be left to an entirely different debate). Will could gone had he just signed his name differently. Would you consider this challenging authority because it has overstepped it's bounds? I would call it challenging authority for the sake of challenging authority (and gaining nothing from it).
No one is, does that make his opinion any less valid than yours?
"will is all talk, no action...i mean, in elections last year he kept trying to promise open lunch and a bunch of other dumb **** that will never happen" - um
Well as of now, the SMOB has the power to talk, that's it. Same with SGA President. Look at Eric Hysen. They have no power to begin with, Will will definitely try to change that and if not successful will make it be known the way it is instead of Hysen using the little power he does have to the advantage of the students and not pointing out that he really has no power.
"plus he has no experience, as he's too busy partying and reporting facebook groups that say one bad thing about him..." - um
What experience do you need to talk to the BOE about their decisions? You need to be able to identify with the students, listen to them, and fight for their interests. Will can do that very well so I believe he has all the qualifications he needs. Also if you read on facebook it specifically says groups against a particular group or person will not be tolerated. The group was specifically against him, what did you expect?
"i also witnessed the nominating convention and will had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. it was clear that ben is by far the best candidate and that will doesn't know what he is doing." - go ben
Can you please expand a little bit as most people, including me, weren't there and would like to know what was going on. I don't know much about Ben, from what I've heard he may make a great SMOB, but I KNOW Will Bucher will, so unless Ben is able to convince me fast that he will be able to better job than Will, my vote goes to Will.
Who's zach???
Oops. Think someone let the cat out of the bag."
Am I missing something???
when "shag" addressed "zach" he accidentally (or not) identified the true name of "Libertarian" (a frequent poster).
when "Someone you may know" responded, they noticed the slip "shag" made in pointing out the identity of "Libertarian," which has been a mystery for a long time.
at least that's how i interpreted it...