Youth encouraged to Have Their Say in class
A teaching resource about civic issues has been developed to help students aged 13 to 15 become more aware of and involved in local government.
Social Studies teachers at Christchurch high schools have been encouraged to order the Have Your Say resource through the Education and Promotion coordinator at the Christchurch City Council or download it via the online Resource Catalogue for Schools.
Its objectives are to create a better understanding of local government and encourage students to engage with and have input into local government issues and the development of the city as a good place to live, work and play.
As they work through the resource, students develop skills in social decision-making and values exploration. They will also develop knowledge about how systems of government are organised locally and how that impacts on their daily lives.
Activities included within the resource run from opportunities to comment about local street developments to writing a election candidate profile and looking at case studies of past planning decisions.
Murray Fastier, Principal Social Science Lecturer at the College of Education, says the resource is “stimulating and engaging” and will be valued by teachers and students. “Have Your Say certainly fills a gap on a very important topic, where few resources currently exist,” he says.
“Giving students experience in having their say in a classroom situation about local government issues will encourage them not to be intimidated by the process. It should set them on a path to being active citizens,” says Kerry Everingham, the City Council’s Education and Promotion Coordinator.
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