How to Win a High School Election: Advice and Ideas Collected from over 1000 High School Seniors

Advice for running in a school election, with tips on such aspects as conducting a campaign, making promises, and delivering a speech

Grade 9 Up-A solid and entertaining offering. In a natural, unaffected tone, Marx identifies those qualities most likely to lead to success in a school election. They include being sincere, talking (and listening) to people, and making a great speech (short, funny, and well prepared). There is no vague, starry-eyed advice here; this is a real primer in practical politics. The author readily admits, for instance, that most students are apathetic about elections and he tells candidates how to turn this fact to their advantage. Much of the text consists of direct quotes from students and they may be the most useful part of the book-certainly they are the most amusing. Well organized enough so that readers can pick and choose sections to use, this is an accessible book for anyone interested in running for a school office.
Richard Luzer, Fair Haven Union High School, VT
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Marx surveyed literally thousands of students around the country (and also acquired a few responses from European ones), then compiled the advice verbatim to help readers learn effective campaign strategies and avoid mistakes when running for school office. Threaded throughout the single-paragraph excerpts is the affirming message that anyone, even the most unlikely candidate, can win with the right effort and attitude. Marx's introduction, which offers an entertaining rationale for writing the book, flows with the same inviting, conversational language as the back-to-back student comments that comprise the bulk of the text. With useful suggestions on everything from writing memorable speeches to garnering support from unusual sources, this provides much for interested students, especially those intimidated by or hesitant about getting involved. Roger Leslie