Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
On Monday, July 11, a group of homeschool students gathered to hear Monticello's Mayor Julie Conley talk about her role in our community, and then they staged a mock City Council Meeting at City Hall. Their activities were part of a class called “Let's Get Political” that has been meeting weekly since the beginning of May and will continue through the summer until the end of November. Each week a different guest speaker gives the students an opportunity to learn about a different facet of the political fabric of Jefferson County.
Jefferson County Homeschool Association President Tammy Brookins says, “I created this class in an attempt to teach the kids about the different offices held at the city and county levels. My goal was to show them how these offices affected their daily lives and ran the community in which we live.”
Originally, Brookins also envisioned students getting involved with a political campaign to see first hand what running for office entails, but the class has instead developed a focus on city and county government in practice. Brookins co-teaches the class with Gretchen Wallace.
For Monday's class on the City Council, Mayor Conley made a presentation and then had students draw council meeting roles out of a hat. Wallace's grandson, Andrew Kang, drew the slip of paper with “Mayor” on it, giving him the opportunity to hold the gavel and run the mock meeting, while his classmates participated as other council members or city residents bringing an issue before the council. The hypothetical problem involved a dispute between neighbors about a dog. The students had packets of information about city codes that might apply in the situation, and they experienced first hand what's expected when managing a public discussion and following procedures for governmental decision-making.
Kang commented afterwards, “I am interested in the class because I get to learn what people are responsible for in their political positions and how they do their jobs. When we did a mock City Council meeting in the Monticello City Hall, I learned how to run a City Council meeting.”
Kang feels that if someday he wanted to become involved in politics, he would know what to do.
The “Let's Get Political” class is designed for homeschooled students from age 10 to 18, and their parents are welcome to attend also. Wallace says that a couple members of the community also like to come in and listen to the speakers. She invites anyone interested to join in on Mondays at 10 a.m. at the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church Monticello (325 W. Washington).
In addition to Mayor Conley, speakers so far have included Supervisor of Elections Tyler McNeil; Democratic Party Members Kathy Halsey and Gladys Rowan Watson; Republican Party Member Glen Bishop; Lynn Stafford of the Keystone Federated Republican Women; County Commissioner Betsey Barfield; Libertarian Party Member Paul Henry; County Commission Candidate Austin Hosford; and School Board Candidate Brenda Wirick.
Future speakers lined up to address the class include City Councilwoman Gloria Cox; County Commissioner Gene Hall; City Councilman George Evans; Elizabeth Hughes on legislative process; Supervisor of Elections Candidates Mike Fillyaw and Michelle Milligan; Florida House District 9 Representative Allison Tant; City Clerk Emily Anderson; Sheriff Mac McNeill; School Superintendent Eydie Tricquet; Property Appraiser Angela Gray; and County Planner Shannon Metty.
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