I Can Be President: A Kid's Eye View

Gr 1–4—How do kids feel about being president? They're hopeful, and they have big plans. That's the premise behind this production. Interviews with children from diverse backgrounds, including different religions, ethnicities, physical abilities, and genders, provide insights. Animation gives substance to some of their visions. A quick rundown lists all the presidents, with occasional odd facts about them. The program also includes information on the requirements for becoming president, and it would seem to be a real winner for a presidential election year. However, the production has problems. The children seem coached in their responses, and there is a clear liberal bias. The constant repetition of the concept that "anyone can be president" is erroneous. Even the section on requirements for the presidency is not exactly correct. "Must be born in America" is not entirely accurate. The implication that to become president a person must receive the majority of the popular vote is also wrong, though it would be a challenge to explain the electoral college to early elementary school children. That this is all seen from a child's point of view is not enough to overlook the flawed information.