It might be tempting to order a massive hot fudge sundae from the White House chef and catch a double feature in your private movie theater. (Presidential perks!) But the students we talked to had more serious plans for their first day in office.
One of the most popular tasks? Protecting the environment. Liam Saguar, an eighth-grader from Kentucky, would promote electric cars and eliminate the use of fossil fuels. Other students would prioritize finding ways to clean the air and water. “We only have one Earth, so we need to save that Earth,” says Grant Koerner, a seventh-grader from North Carolina.
Many students said they would use their presidential power to ensure that everyone has a home and healthy food. Gavin Hwang, a sixth-grader from California, would start by building more houses and apartments. “Everybody should have a safe place where they can sleep at night or keep their belongings and not worry about them being stolen,” he says. Sonika Vankadaru, a sixth-grader from Pennsylvania, agrees. “I would give every homeless family a house and a good-paying job,” she says.
High prices were another hot topic. Many students said they would use their role to tackle inflation—a rise in prices over time that can make goods or services costlier. “It makes life hard when everything’s so expensive,” explains Abby Matukonis, a seventh-grader from Maryland. Clementine Ferrara, a seventh-grader from Wisconsin, agrees. “Some people can’t afford food or clothes for their kids,” she says. Clementine’s solution? Raising the minimum wage—the lowest amount most workers can be paid hourly.