Perhaps surprising to most Americans, in China, democratic election processes at elementary school level are quite common. It was so dating back at least 25-30 years ago when I was in elementary school. Not every name can end up on the ballot. You have to indicate an interest to run. Teachers do tend to flush out potential candidates who fail to embody desirable qualities such as good academic standing, willingness to help the elderly and fellow classmates and decent athletic capability. In most elementary schools, each class (the entering class of 2015 for example) is divided into several sub-groups with each occupying one classroom. Students do not travel from classroom to classroom. Instead, teachers go to different classrooms to instruct. Each sub-group elects its own class monitor.
In the past, fellow pupils used to vote mostly based on the speech each candidate delivers, plus the personal assessment of course. With increasing commercialism, the voting process as evidenced in this documentary has become much more competitive and sometimes downright chilling.
There seems to be less merit-based screening up front. Competition occasionally digresses into the arena of talent show and popularity contest. In order to achieve their goals, third-graders quickly learn to canvass, bribe, barnstorm and slander, leaving not much in imagination.
With English subtitles and dialogue in Mandarin. Enjoy the documentary.
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