In an effort to give students a greater foundation in civics, some teachers in Volusia County Schools (VCS) are taking their lessons from the classroom to city halls and boardrooms.
This spring the DeLand School of Government celebrated the 20th year of a partnership between the district, the DeLand & Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce, and the cities of DeLand, Orange City, and DeBary.
It’s a partnership that affords students the opportunity to see how state and local governments operate by meeting with the people who have been charged with running them.
“The program really focuses on the fact that state and local government thrives not on politicians but on citizens,” said Dr. Lindsay Brinkmann, a teacher of history in the advanced-placement and international baccalaureate programs at DeLand High School.
The program recently took students to Tallahassee, where they visited the State Supreme Court, House of Representatives and Senate.
“Through this, they get a really good idea of exactly that relationship between state and local offices,” Dr. Brinkmann said.
The culmination of the seven-month course is a mock DeLand City Commission meeting during which the students play the roles of commissioners, city department leaders, local business owners, residents and developers.
“Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity,” said Inaya Chowdhury, who served as the mayor. “Through the program, we learned about several career options within both our state and city communities.”
“The chamber couldn’t be more proud of you,” Janet Knauff, the chamber’s CEO, said to the students.
Dalia Chowdhury, Inaya’s mom and VCS teacher, said she was grateful her daughter had such eye-opening opportunities through the public-private partnership.
“She was really looking forward to it,” Dalia said after watching the mock meeting. “I am very proud of her.”
On the east side of the district, students in Atlantic High School’s Academy of Law and Government also recently held a mock meeting in Port Orange’s City Hall.
Similarly, through the partnership with the DeLand chamber, students from University High School conducted a mock school board meeting.
Volusia County School Board Chair Jamie Haynes helped them through the process, giving advice on everything from preparing for a meeting to understanding their rights as board members, making for a more informed student body that will grow up to be informed citizens in the community.
