A first hand look at leadership
Students in Government Day was March 27
Council clerk Tammy Guenther consults with students Maria Busson (left) and Hanna Hines before the mock council meeting on Students in Government Day. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
WADSWORTH – Learning about government and how it works in the confines of a classroom is one thing, but 63 Wadsworth High School students received a different experience entirely during the annual Students in Government Day March 27.
Students spent the day shadowing city, township and school officials and also had the opportunity to tour municipal facilities and departments to get a firsthand look at the day-to-day operations of local government.
The day culminated with a mock council meeting in council chambers at Wadsworth City Hall.
Students voted on a few pieces of mock legislation including an ordinance to purchase land to create a downtown park and also a resolution to consider a levy that would add more school resource officers to police department staff.
“I would like to thank every single person who made this possible,” said Maria Busson, who shadowed Council President Bob Thurber. “It was a great learning experience and a great opportunity that a lot of students don’t get to experience.”
Council Clerk Tammy Guenther, who organized the event with the help of Stark State College Intern Dawn Brown, said she was impressed by the commitment of community officials to this program.
“The commitment to spending time with our youth is obvious,” she said. “Many individuals devoted their entire day so that students could explore our local governments within this framework. I’m also aware of the special effort and creativity that a number of people put forth to engage, entertain and educate our guests in the department tours, one-to-one shadowing and in the legislative and group meeting activities. I equally appreciate those who made a point to show up for a welcome session or to meet their student counterpart for lunch.”
Guenther said she was also appreciative of the students.
“Thank you to these Wadsworth young people who, with their interest and graciousness, represented themselves, their teachers and community so well,” she said. “We appreciate our Wadsworth government teachers, especially Rob Lynn, for not only helping to make this event happen, but especially for the day to day work of educating a generation of young people.”
Students spent the day shadowing city, township and school officials and also had the opportunity to tour municipal facilities and departments to get a firsthand look at the day-to-day operations of local government.
The day culminated with a mock council meeting in council chambers at Wadsworth City Hall.
Students voted on a few pieces of mock legislation including an ordinance to purchase land to create a downtown park and also a resolution to consider a levy that would add more school resource officers to police department staff.
“I would like to thank every single person who made this possible,” said Maria Busson, who shadowed Council President Bob Thurber. “It was a great learning experience and a great opportunity that a lot of students don’t get to experience.”
Council Clerk Tammy Guenther, who organized the event with the help of Stark State College Intern Dawn Brown, said she was impressed by the commitment of community officials to this program.
“The commitment to spending time with our youth is obvious,” she said. “Many individuals devoted their entire day so that students could explore our local governments within this framework. I’m also aware of the special effort and creativity that a number of people put forth to engage, entertain and educate our guests in the department tours, one-to-one shadowing and in the legislative and group meeting activities. I equally appreciate those who made a point to show up for a welcome session or to meet their student counterpart for lunch.”
Guenther said she was also appreciative of the students.
“Thank you to these Wadsworth young people who, with their interest and graciousness, represented themselves, their teachers and community so well,” she said. “We appreciate our Wadsworth government teachers, especially Rob Lynn, for not only helping to make this event happen, but especially for the day to day work of educating a generation of young people.”
