European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 2, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday november 2, 1992 education the stars and stripes b Page 9clinton gets nod for health plan by Nancy l. Torner l a Bureau Raf Croughton England when it comes to health care platforms democratic presidential hopeful Bill Clinton Lias the most Appeal. That was the opinion of a majority of students enrolled in health classes at Croughton High school where an informal debate was held last week. The debate entered on health care proposals of the three top presidential contenders. A mock election after the debate resulted in 17 votes for Clinton followed by president Bush with 10 votes and Independent candidate Ross Perot with 4. Margaret Thatcher former prime minister of Britain received 2 write in votes. Or. To from the television series the a team received 1 write in vote. N the purpose of the exercise was to educate students about problems with health care in the United states said Sharon Epperson the school s librarian. Epperson cooperated in the exercise with health teacher Mary Mendel. The students Are a fall covered by military health care so they did no to have much of an ideas about the . Health care system Epperson said. A the main thrust was to let them know its different out  Mendel said that it was a timely exercise because Many military families will be affected by the ongoing reduction in forces in Europe. Also in a few years the students will face the problems of paying for health care As adults. A these students arc so accustomed to having free health care a Mendel said. A i wanted them to know it will be different when they get Back to the  As Epperson and Mendel had hoped students viewed the debate As More than just an exercise and seemed to take the issues personally. The teen agers were Quick to Point out flaws in the platforms of the candidates they did not support and were Adamant when defending their chosen contender. Before choosing political Camps students were required to research such issues As the Cost of routine surgery abortions cancer treatment nursing Home care doctors services and Medicine. They also studied payment options including insurance plans is. Health maintenance organizations and compared military health care with other health care systems. Finally students investigated candidates health care platforms and compared Campaign promises with the nations health care needs. Based on their findings students chose sides and one or More students in each political Camp acted As spokespeople for their candidate. Bush supporters praised his pledge to continue aids research to limit abortions except in instances of rape incest and endangerment to the Mother and to reduce health care costs by limiting malpractice suits against health care professionals. Detractors were Quick to argue. A i think if Bush can to help the Economy How is he going to Stop rising health costs a asked Kevin Miller 15.Miller a Clinton supporter argued on the Side of Perot because Only a few people could be found who backed the Texas billionaire. Miller termed Perot a Good businessman who supported the right to an abortion with the consent of parents or spouse. Perot also advocates Universal health coverage without discrimination Miller said. Still Clinton was his candidate Miller said because a i think he has the Best policies for education and right now As a student that a what concerns me the  Clinton supporters extolled his backing of abortion rights his pledge to hold Down doctors fees and his Bush wins by a mile a at schools pupils at several do00s  schools voted id mock Ete Etious last weak. By Rosemary Sawyer Brussels Bureau defying pollsters who for weeks have been predicting a Bill Clinton Victory on tuesday elementary and High school pupils last week gave president Bush a landslide win in mock elections at overseas schools in Belgium England Norway and the Netherlands. However the president should not Craft a Victory speech based on results at these department of defense dependents schools alone. Their tallies will be combined with votes from plenty of would be Clinton and Ross Perot fans in schools across the United states in a mock election program sponsored by time Magazine. Four elementary schools and four High schools Are serving As the regions voice in the nationwide count As Many other schools in Dodds Atlantic Region held Independent elections. However the schools that reported their votes to the designated election Headquarters gave a Clear message we like Bush. In the High school tally which generally included voters in grades seven through 12, Bush received 284 votes to 197 for Democrat Clinton and 165 for Independent Perot. Elementary school voters predominantly from grades three to five gave Bush an even stronger mandate with 422 votes compared with Clinton a 189 and Perot a 112. At Croughton elementary school in England principal Ray Smith got an insight into Why Bush received a lopsided Victory when he overheard pupils in the cafeteria excitedly discussing political issues on the Day of their mock debates. A for some reason people got the idea that if Clinton were to be elected he was going to just can s y is elementary schools Bush Clinton Perot accent 25 47 18 Alconbury 216 76 27 Croughton 77 47 36 Oslo 104 19 31 High schools Alconbury 164 104 17 Brussels 31 46 80 London Central 38 17 28 Oesterberg 51 30 40 totals 706 386 277 cel the air Force a Smith said. A i actually had them ask a or. Smith if Clinton selected is he going to cancel the air Force a a no Small threat in a Community of Bluc suiters. However 11-year-old Jesse Conley a reason for casting one of the school s 77 ballots for Bush was More Basic. A a he a honest a said the Croughton fifth grader. Of course other candidates had their fans. After some deliberation at Home Lisa Gay contributed to Clinton a 47 votes. A i sat Down and talked with my mom and she told me what she thought and then 1 went to my dad and he told me what he thought. Then i voted for the one that 1 liked Best Quot the 10-Ycar-old explained without revealing the preferences of parents Rodney and Karen Alvarado. Perot had a place at Croughton too. He received 36 votes including one from the file grader who played the billionaires part in mock debates. A i voted for Perot a said Dustin Robbins who just assumed office himself As student Council president. A i had a lot of inside knowledge because 1 had to write a whole paper on him. I found that Perot seemed like he would be the Best for  sixth through 12th-Gradcrs at Brussels a the Only school that elected Perot a must have agreed. Perot walked away with 80 votes compared with Bush a 31 and Clinton a 46. Sascha Fedyszyn who played Perot a part in _ mock debates believes Susan hams flow a. Pc fleets their support of the True candidates and not just the Young people portraying them. A i really think it had very Little to do with popularity a said the 17-Ycar-old senior. A a it a the idea of change. They re looking past the fact that even though it is a Dodds school and Perot is planning military cuts and Bush Isnit As much that they re fed up with the whole economic situation in the United states. And that a what Perot a Campaign is based  desire to see affordable health care available to everyone. A i think he is doing something for everybody not just the Rich or the Middle class a said Kelli Buchanan 15. Shawnte Russell 15, another Clinton supporter liked his proposals to a include everybody not just a select  but Amanda Suppes 15, a Bush supporter countered that a Clinton says All this stuff but How does he propose to pay for it a Amanda Hamilton 15, a Clinton supporter said her candidate would pay for his programs the same Way that the other candidates would pay for theirs by raising taxes. A i think that a the Only Way we can get things solved a Hamilton  studies draw Down effects on schools in Germany by Jimi Jones education writer a Council established by Congress to advise the director of the military a overseas schools concluded its semiannual meeting in Wiesbaden Germany on saturday after a week of visits to several schools in the Region. The 24-member advisory Council on dependents education also prepared for its two Day meeting by holding forums with parents pupils and teachers in Germany. T the Council looked at How the continuing draw Down of . Forces in Germany is affecting department of defense dependents schools and whether school offerings Are being maintained. A we Are sensitive to the fact that in Germany you Are dealing with a particularly difficult situation during draw Down a Council member Millicent Woods told 75 people wednesday at a Heidelberg Middle school forum. A we Are very committed to. The school system and Quality of the offerings during the period of change. 1 know you Are experiencing something  the Council is made up of parents teachers pupils school administrators military members and representatives from the secretaries of defense and education. It is similar to a stateside school Board. Members were split into four teams. Each team conducted two Day visits to four schools each in Germany a Heidelberg Frankfurt Nurnberg and Rhein Eiful districts. The Germany Region has seven districts having lost one last school year. A we believe that we have Access through these teams to what is considered to be the Best practices in schools in the United states Quot Woods who is an assistant to the defense departments top personnel executive told the Heidelberg audience. A a. They help us see whether or not those practices Are a part of our own school system or things that we might take into  team members ranged from superintendents of stateside school districts to Dodds consultants to . Assistant Secretary of education Lanny Griffith. The forums covered subjects such As the seven period Day Homework policy and summer school Woods said. Discussions in Heidelberg included the Cost and availability of health care for school staff an army screening process that is allowing More and More children with special education needs to arrive in theater and Pupil teacher ratios. After a week of Public forums and visits the Council met privately saturday to discuss its findings and accept reports that ranged from new programs in Dodds to the implementation of National education goals. The Council which includes Dodds director John Stremple solves what problems it can then compiles a list of recommendations to be forwarded to lawmakers