Two schools sponsor trips to Palin rally

I saw plenty of students at Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's political rally. Most were with their parents.

I also saw two groups on a school-sponsored field trip.

The day wasn't going so well for teacher Anita Thomason and her seven high school government students.

They left Zalma at 6 a.m., and by 9 a.m. were preparing to leave, before Palin's speech had started. "There's no way we're going to get in to see her. Where we were, the line goes on forever," Thomason said.

They had to park at West Park Mall and take a shuttle bus to the event. She said she had wanted her students to experience the political process.

"We don't talk about political parties. We keep that as a personal opinion. I encourage students to do research and when they become of age to register to vote," Thomason said, although she was wearing two McCain/ Palin campaign buttons.

Scott City government teacher Jay Rinehart brought 10 students to the rally. He said there is no policy he is aware of that limits participation in a campaign event such as the Palin rally.

"So far there's not been a lot of Democratic events. We'd be happy to do that as well," he said. "This is a unique opportunity for students to see government close up and personal. We don't often get this level of government come to our area. We wanted to take advantage."

His students have debated campaign issues such as "gas prices, abortion, and the economy" in class, said student Miranda Foshee, 15. "It can get pretty heated," she said.

Classmate Heather Pikey, 15, said she is an Independent. She almost didn't come to the event. "I'm not for either. I'm not really Republican or Democrat. I agree with McCain on abortion. I am for the middle class and Obama is for the middle class."

Pikey likes that Palin is a woman, but she wishes Hillary Clinton was still in the race.

Third-grader Blake Sparkman attended the rally with her mom, Laura Sparkman, and said she also likes that Palin is female.

"She's going to be the first woman vice president," Blake said.