Greg,
There's no way I'd send kids out doing that stuff.
1st I'd have to do a risk assessment,
2nd arrange supervision, ensure the supervisor passed all the necessary police checks,
3rd ensure that what they are doing isn't contrary to state or federal govt policy, dictum or agenda, (we're encouraged told by our fed govt. to dob in any fed employees who bag the govt, govt pollies or govt plans) and the state govt. has a code of conduct that prevents govt employees from speaking out about the same stuff except where they are whistle blowers who go directly to the anti-corruption authority) though I am, personally exempt from some aspect as I'm a union rep.
4th as it exposes them to unbalanced, unmediated responses which may be negative or offensive it couldn't go ahead as it would clear in the risk assessment that many of these things cannot be prevented, tempered or bypassed.
5th we aren't (& I agree with this) permitted to make a political statement one way or the other to our students even if they ask as we are in a position that may have significant influence over the kids.
6th - you get the picture.
Outside of my working life I wouldn't do it because of number 4 and the knowledge that the kid needs to have an understanding of their position based on reality before expounding that to others, (some pollies lack this too) and some degree of credibility as well.Plus it's just wrong.
We have
a student council (1st grade & up) but it's about engagement with the school, the students and occasional charity collections as well as an exercise in civics not politics.
In Australia voting is mandatory & being so the vote does count, is counted and sometimes miscounted. Indifference can be expressed by "donkey" (no not as in elephant or ass), informal voting which is, in itself subject to a count and analysis or by paying the fine.
We get, as a nation, the idiots we vote for and collectively share the blame/shame of that 3 year term.
In our Senate, however, microparty preference deals deliver senators who garner less that 1% primary vote in their state/constituancyand are dedicated to single issues such as, (in the new senate starting in June), sport or hunting - and they stay for SIX years pushing their narrow barrow and exercising influence well beyond their abilities, understanding or control (& control is what some svengali seems to have over this rorting/fenangling/manipulation).
Let's face it the Hitler Youth was about separating potential officers from potential cannon fodder in the midst of pre boot camp training whilst fostering the dob in book reader ethos.
George Orwell was scarily accurate wasn't he?
P.S. most of the worst things said in the playground are simple, unknowing regurgitation of what is said at home & how it is said.