At time when political apathy among young voters has never
been higher, James Williams is an anachronism. In 1997,
when Al Gore was still putting the final touches on the
Internet, Williams, then 13, set up his own website: Williams
for President in 2020 (www.bigfoot.com/~james williams).
President of the United States, that is.
At 14, while a freshman at Lincoln, Williams became the
first student member of the council that governs Environmental
Middle School. He also ran (un-successfully) for student
body president at Lincoln that year, a fairly audacious
move for a freshman.
"People agreed that his speech was the best," says Lincoln
social studies teacher Mike Sweeney. "Based on speeches
alone, he should have won."
As school starts this week, Williams, now a junior, will
sit as the student representative to the Portland School
Board--only the second student to have earned that honor.
He interrupted his Labor Day vacation to tell us, in an
email interview, what--besides sex, drugs and rock and roll--is
important to high-school students.
Willamette Week: You have a website for your
presidential candidacy. Tell me about that.
James Williams: Williams in 2020 was founded in 1996 with
the goal of electing me president of the United States in
the year 2020. For a long time, I've wanted to become president.
This desire has only grown stronger as I have seen politics
played out at the state, local, and national levels.
While the website itself has not been updated since 1998,
and the campaign has been moving at a snail's pace, I have
been immersed in the political experience: I have interned
with Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten, worked for several
political campaigns, lobbied the Legislature and worked
on many grassroots issues.
If you could vote in the presidential election in November,
for whom would you vote?
I would vote for Gore. What I would really like is for
all of the candidates, including Nader, to be allowed to
debate publicly. I prefer to make an informed decision and
currently do not feel informed enough. I also have to express
great disappointment with the political process for electing
all of our officials, including the president. I can only
hope that a more equitable and rational system will be employed
by 2020, for my campaign.
As a sophomore last year, you took the test for the
Certificate of Initial Mastery. What were your impressions?
For me personally, the CIM was both easy and irrelevant.
For example, as I took the tests last year, I encountered
badly written questions; questions with no, or multiple,
correct answers; questions regarding math on the English
test; questions with missing information (charts, etc.);
and the like.
However, my greatest concern is with the degree that people
are using these tests to evaluate public education and individual
students. I just do not believe that they can accurately
measure student learning.
Are teachers teaching to the test?
Not that I am aware of. However, the curriculum has been
forced into alignment with CIM/CAM standards. That alignment
is of particular concern because of its potential conflict
with the flexibility that students and teachers need.
A Lincoln student committed suicide last year. How did
it affect the student body? How well did the school and
the district handle his death?
While I didn't know the student personally, the suicide
did affect all the students at Lincoln. As a student body,
we were brought closer together and made more aware of our
lack of community. I feel that the school and district handled
the situation in a fair manner. Nonetheless, some students
were frustrated with a district policy that disallowed any
recognition at graduation for the student.
How common is cheatingat Lincoln?
As far as I know, cheating is not very widespread.
What has surprised you most since you joined the School
Board in June?
The biggest surprise so far has been the public's impatience,
its lack of cooperation and understanding when working with
the board.
The Oregon Citizens Alliance has claimed that public
schools have a pro-homosexual agenda and put a measure on
the November ballot that would severely curtail teachers'
ability to discuss homosexuality in any way. Are the OCA's
concerns justified?
The measure is simply absurd. The idea that there is sort
of "pro-homosexual agenda" within our schools is ridiculous
and unfounded. It is simply a demonstration of people's
ignorance. The simple fact is that most people, including
teachers and students, are heterosexual. Therefore, it would
be rather difficult for anyone, teacher or student or district,
to have any such "agenda." The real issue, rather, is homophobia,
which is prevalent throughout this state.
Should the school board continue its ban on military
recruiting?
Yes. I do not believe that we can support any group that
discriminates. Since we are not denying anyone the opportunity
to serve, and since the military continues its discriminatory
policy, we are obliged to hold to our belief that discrimination
of any sort cannot be tolerated.
How would you describe yourself?
I believe that I am an educated, engaged person that thinks
highly of community, the environment in its entirety and
democracy. I love learning and education, I love politics
and public service, and I love giving back to my community.
Are you a geek?
No one can answer such a question, especially without a
definition. I know that I do not fit into any pre-defined
group, nor does anyone else. People might say I'm too serious,
that I work too hard or am obsessive about politics. Also,
they might add that my sense of humor can be incomprehensible.
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