The president's invisible jock-strap

I once taught my daughter's fifth grade class about the two party system. I divided the class into either Flintstone Party members, Jetson Party members, or Independents. Each party caucused, elected candidates, supported their ticket, made and placed campaign signs around the school grounds, made and wore campaign badges, and wrote a party platform. Flintstones were conservative and Jetsons were progressive. Each party candidate made a speech. At the end of the week all the students voted, rejecting the popular kids in class for a boy who was not one of the favored, but gave an incredible speech. It turned out to be a turning point for that boy. In the years that followed, he stepped out of his passive role, tried out for things he'd never before considered and became a school leader in high school.

Oh, and the conclusion of most of the kids was that political parties were not desirable, and that they'd rather be Independents. That was in 1994. Different result. Different times?