Students see local government in action

Committee holds meeting at elementary school

By:Vanessa S. Holt
   CHESTERFIELD — Elementary school children here had a chance to see their local government up close last week, when the Township Committee held its regular meeting at Chesterfield Elementary School.
   "Children study the concept of government, but it’s important for them to understand this is a place to have direct contact with their local government," said Mayor Brian Kelly.
   Students in third through sixth grade packed the school’s all-purpose room on the afternoon of Sept. 13 to watch their government in action. They were provided with copies of the meeting agenda, which Mayor Kelly told them was a "menu" of what the committee would do that day.
   Several students were even invited to take part in the meeting itself. Grace DeFelippis, 9, a fourth-grade student, led the flag salute, while her friend Taylor Leyden, 11, a sixth-grader, read a resolution noting the township’s appreciation for the work done by retiring state Secretary of Agriculture Art Brown.
   Mr. Brown, who was at the meeting, said he was touched by the gesture.
   "We’ve come a long way since the beginning of farmland preservation, which is for people like yourselves and for people after you," said Mr. Brown. "This is the first time, on leaving a government office, I’ve been honored by a body like this; it’s very touching."
   Zach Leili, 10, a fifth-grader, read a resolution recognizing the importance of the Peacemaker program in the elementary school, a program which honors students for their good behavior.
   Township Committee meetings were an "all new" experience for Zach, who said he had never been to one before.
   Working in government was appealing to Grace, who enjoys math and science but also is interested in working with animals some day.
   "I have many ideas of what I want to do," she said.
   Taylor said she was interested in seeing how government works because of her interest in the environment and solar energy.
   Chief School Administrator Edward F. Gibson said he felt the experience would be good for the children, even if they didn’t understand everything that happened at a meeting.
   "I hope they will learn that their town is run by their parents, relatives, friends and neighbors," said Dr. Gibson. "It’s something that real people do, and requires them to make decisions to protect our rights and ensure that people have a clean, safe place to live."
   Students were curious about the jobs their public servants performed in town, asking if it was hard to be mayor, and how they became interested in government.
   "I look it as a service job, to serve the community and make it better," said Deputy Mayor Larry Durr to one student’s question. "There are difficult decisions to be made, but it is rewarding."
   "We live in a great country with many freedoms," said Councilman Michael Hlubik. "It’s important to protect them."
   After the meeting was adjourned, Dr. Gibson told students he hoped they had learned that government was not a secretive activity.
   "It’s part of what makes America great," he said.