Editor: The Times featured a great deal of information prior to the recent municipal election, and I want to share with you how my students have been involved in the process.
As part of our government unit (Social Studies), students have been learning about the democratic process and the importance of voting. With such low turnout in municipal elections, it is important that our future leaders understand their responsibility to vote.
To make this experience more interesting, I invited the three mayoral candidates in Langley Township to join us. Rick Green and Jack Froese spoke with students about their reasons for running for mayor and the importance of voting. Students asked them questions and I was very impressed with the amount of thought that went into their questions. I was so proud to be their teacher.
The third mayoral candidate, Serena Oh, was also invited but unable to come.
Also, the Chief Electoral Officer, Bob Wilson joined us on Friday, Nov. 7. He brought an electronic voting machine and provided a demonstration which gave students an opportunity to participate in a mock election. This was so cool.
This all worked up to our student vote, which was held last Friday, the day before the municipal elections.
Student Vote is a parallel election for students under the voting age, coinciding with official election periods. Its purpose is to provide students with an opportunity to experience the democratic process firsthand and practice the habits of informed and engaged citizenship.
This too was a great experience.
Nicole Lebrun
Grade 5/6 French Immersion teacher,
James Kennedy Elementary School,
Langley
