If I Were The President
Miles’ song, “If I Were The President,” is designed as a collaborative work that makes room for student ideas. Students answer the question, “If you were the president of the United States, what would you do to make the world a better place.” Student ideas are then inserted to the song and sent to the president.
Philosophy and Intent
Miles’ goal is to further awaken the political voices of the students--to let them know that no matter how old they are, their opinions really matter. The president (Republican or Democrat) needs and wants to hear from them. America is a great country because we can freely share our opinions with one another, and sometimes disagree out loud.
Preparation
This project be can be accomplished with entire schools or individual classrooms.
Students are oriented to the process that the president and all politicians rely on getting advice from people. The president can’t really know what it’s like to be in your shoes. To do a better job, he needs your perspective. You can even write him a letter or send him an email right now at: www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Students listen to the song & how it works.
Students are encouraged to think of serious answers to make the world better.
This can be done quickly (1 hour) or extended with class discussions of current events and and actual letter writing.
Recording Day
Miles meets with students and teaches them the song. The final version can take several formats from the simple creation of a short video to full blown assembly where the students share their ideas with one another in a live performance.
History of Project
Miles has been doing this project for over 10 years and in that time has surveyed thousands of students whose ideas have been sent to current and former presidents.
