Creating Active Citizens Through Education

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Creating Active Citizens Through Education:The Foundation of Democracy’s and America’s Future

René M. LafayetteNorthbridge High SchoolWhitinsville, Massachusetts

Presented at American Bar Association’s 26th Conference on Law Related EducationOctober 2, 2009, Chicago, Illinois

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Creating Active Citizens Through

EducationThe foundation, the future.

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Building a Better

Tomorrow:Youth,

Citizenship, and Civic

Engagement

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Case Study: Northbridge Election

WorkersNovember 4, 2008

Presidential ElectionState Legislative Races

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•In 2006, Massachusetts passed a statute permitting minors, aged 16 and 17, to serve as election officials.

•In 2008, for the first time in Northbridge’s history, students served in this capacity - 14 students, all enrolled in Citizenship In Action were appointed by the Board of Selectmen to serve in this role.

•Voter turnout was high and so were the spirits of the 14 young men and women. They learned the real meaning of being active citizens.

Creating Active Citizens Through Education

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Pre-election day poll worker training session. Veterans and students alike meet and learn from Town Clerk Doreen Cedrone in Northbridge Town Hall.

Creating Active Citizens Through Education

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Election Day, November 4, 2008, Veterans Memorial Field House, Northbridge High School. Student poll worker Kayla Downing directing voters.

Creating Active Citizens Through Education

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Election Day 2008, voters casting ballots (left). Dorreen Cedrone, Northbridge Town Clerk (left) reviewing procedures with student poll worker Destine Clemente (right).

Creating Active Citizens Through Education

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Northbridge, Massachusetts, population approximately 14,000, saw a strong voter turnout on Election Day, November 4, 2008.

Creating Active Citizens Through Education

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•Matthew Perry, President of Northbridge High School Class of 2009 poses with ballot.

•Matt would be casting his first vote in minutes.

•A Citizenship In Action student, he and friends followed the elections results Election Night.

Ready to Cast First Ballot.

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Voters stood in line waiting to vote (left). Matt Haas (left) and Matt Perry (right) with campaign posters. Both joined with friends on election night to track results.

Creating Active Citizens Through Education

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Prior to voting, precinct moderators answer voter’s questions (left). CIA student Amanda Consigli, NHS’09 (left), reviews voter guide with fellow poll worker.

Creating Active Citizens Through Education

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CIA students greet and direct voters to respective precincts outside field house and Megan McGowan (right) directs voters to carrels to cast ballots.

Creating Active Citizens Through Education

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Creating Active Citizens Through Education

•Building on the successful use of students in November 2008’s election, Citizenship In Action students have been appointed to serve again in the May 2009 town election.

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Creating Active Citizens Through Education

This “experiment” has worked well thanks to open and clear

communications between Town officials and my class.

The role of the media, through their writing about the students

service has also been a contributing positive factor.