Yesterday we conducted a mock election to determine my students’ favorite musical artists using Ranked Choice Voting (RCV).

The purpose was to let them experience RCV first-hand by going through a simulation. I think it accomplished that goal. What most struck me, however, was how few of the nominees I had heard of. Here’s the list:

I’ve heard of exactly four out of these 14! Maybe that isn’t surprising: my students are all rising high-school sophomores from Boston and Cambridge public schools, all low-income, all but one being people of color. At age 75, white, and Jewish, I’m not really in that world, despite living in the inner city.

By the way, Rihanna won on the fifth count.

Categories: Life, Teaching & Learning