Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/4/2011 (3457 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA Matt Henderson, with students in his Grade 9 social studies class, is running as an independent in the federal election.

A slick, sophisticated candidate manufactured to specifications by the party machine and manipulated every step of the way by the backroom in Ottawa.

Um, no, that wouldn't be Matt Henderson, independent candidate and potential MP in the federal riding of Winnipeg South Centre.

Though, it can honestly be said Henderson is at the head of his class as a candidate.

The 22 students in the Grade 9 social studies class Henderson teaches at St. John's-Ravenscourt School aren't old enough to vote, but they're big-time engaged in the May 2 federal election -- they've nominated Henderson and have him on the ballot. Seriously. No, don't LOL.

"It's serious business doing this -- you don't do it lightly," said Henderson.

The Grade 9 social studies curriculum is Canada and the contemporary world and it covers the Canadian political system, Henderson explained.

OK, the students could read about it in books. Books are good.

Or, they could see the political process first-hand. "We talked about running a Grade 12," since candidates have to be at least 18 years old, said SJR Grade 9 student Jeremy Baker.

But when the election was called during their school break, they had to move fast, so they turned to Henderson. He's in his third year of teaching and once upon a time was the president of the University of Winnipeg Students Association.

Political parties tend make sure their candidates are carefully vetted: exhaustive background checks, extensive due diligence, every effort to ensure no dastardly secrets and no hint of scandal.

Said student Sarah Teillet: "We kind of assumed that since he was our teacher, he wasn't some kind of crazy person."

The first daunting task was getting Henderson on the ballot. Students hit the streets of Winnipeg South Centre to collect at least 100 signatures of qualified residents on his nomination papers. They needed more than 100 people to sign, to make sure they'd get enough legit names.

They met slammed doors and more hostility than they'd encountered for most of their young lives.

"What was most shocking to me was how opposed some people were to the democratic process. People will cut you off as soon as you say 'signature,' " said Sam Cohn.

Now they're working on a platform.

"That's an advantage of an independent -- you can dictate what you stand for," said Henderson.

The students have focused on developing positions on poverty, justice, and human rights -- job creation is one of their solutions to overcoming poverty.

"We decided which issues we thought were important," Cohn pointed out.

"They're running the campaign. I'm mediating 22 different ideologies -- we've got sort of a loose platform," Henderson said.

The students are running a social network and online campaign, though they'll also knock on doors, attend all-candidate meetings and other community gatherings and produce a brochure, Henderson said.

Come May 3, the students get marked. "That's what teachers struggle with all the time, what do the kids know? They'll have to articulate that to me in some formal way," Henderson said.

Winning the riding, that would probably be worth an A-plus.

You can check out Winnipeg South Centre independent federal candidate Matt Henderson at www.henderson2011.ca

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca