The history and different methods of voting was recently seen through the lens of mathematics at Mid-Prairie High School.

The course called Math 360, taught by Deidra Baker, involves several real world units including voting. According to Baker, the course talks about five different methods of voting including choice voting, points of preference and the Condorcet method. Also included in the curriculum is a section on gerrymandering and how students can mathematically identify districts that apply. Students ended the unit by looking over the new congressional and legislative district maps drawn for Iowa  to see which maps may have gerrymandered borders. Baker says that she has received good feedback from students and explains why she teaches the class, “I just think that we want our students to be well rounded and well informed and able to make decisions as they head out into the world. I think that this is important information that every student should have access to. You know, ‘How do we vote?’ and ‘How does it work?’ I’m happy that my kids thought it was interesting and had a chance to think about this big idea.”

Baker added that she only teaches the class in the fall as many important elections take place this time each year. She says the class did go over the school board election and the nine candidates running for the three seats available. Polls for the school board and city election will open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.