County councillor Joan Stocker, cabinet member for education recently went back to her roots to teach a citizenship class to yr 10 students at Ullswater Community College.
Joan was more than keen to see how things had changed in the classroom since she last taught science nearly 8 years ago. She talked to students about the role and the importance of being a councillor, and then joined in a discussion with them about how they can get actively involved. The group were particularly interested in how they might progress plans for a skate park in their area.
Councillor Stocker said:
"I enjoyed being back in the class room and I was really pleased that the young people were willing to listen and join in the lesson. It was great to have the opportunity to talk to students about how young people can get involved in influencing local priorities. Young people have an important and valuable role to play in our communities and we want to encourage more young people to become involved in the democratic process within their own area, after all they will be tomorrow’s community leaders. Taken as an average sample of young people, then their community will be in safe hands!"
Shaun Silson teaches citizenship at the College and was delighted that Joan agreed to come along and teach his class. He said:
"It is very difficult to engage young people in the political process when they do not understand how it is relevant to them. Joan did a great job and illustrated why politics is so important to each and every one of us. Politics is for young people. I am sure it has greatly increased their knowledge of the role they can play."
Katie Hather one of the students compared this lesson to her usual citizenship class. She said:
"It was really good and very informative, I didn’t have much of an idea about what councillors were all about before, but feel better informed now."