School Zone
Stanton Students Receive Real-World
Lesson in our State's Legislative Process
In January, Stanton students received a real-world
lesson in our State’s legislative process. Stanton College
Preparatory Law Studies Teacher David Holcombe and six
of his students traveled to Tallahassee to testify
before the Senate Education Committee in support of
Senate Bill (SB) 148. The students, seniors De’Launa
Carriere, Caitlin Carroll, Eryn Kimball, and Isabel
Platt, and juniors Caitlin Holloran and Anitra
Washington, boarded a Tallahassee-bound charter bus on
the afternoon of January 23 to make the trek to our
state’s capital to address the Senate Education
Committee. The students chose to participate because
the bill directly affected them. SB 148 would repeal
last year’s legislation requiring schools to start no
earlier than 14 days before to Labor Day. If the
bill passed, our School Board would have regained
control of our district’s school calendar, and students
would be able to complete the entire first semester
before winter break.
The Stanton students were
invited to participate by House Representative Dick
Kravitz, District 19. Kravitz visited Stanton last
school year as part of Take Your Legislator to School
Day, and when he heard of the committee hearing, he
urged Holcombe and his students to participate.
Holcombe and his class wrote
a position paper, which addressed the pros and cons of
SB 148 and how it would directly affect the students.
When Holcombe announced the possible trip to Tallahassee
to his students, six students in his law studies class (Anitra,
Caitlin C., Caitlin H., De’Launa, Eryn and Isabel)
volunteered to attend the Senate Education Committee
hearing.
The group chose Caitlin
Carroll to serve as its spokesperson. On January 24,
Caitlin Carroll addressed the Senate Education
Committee, and according to eye witnesses, she did an
outstanding job. At the beginning of Caitlin’s
presentation, she challenged the ruling from the
committee chair, which allowed her only two minutes to
address the committee. Because five of Caitlin’s
classmates waived their time to speak, they were all
certain Caitlin would receive more time. However, the
committee’s chair denied Caitlin more time. Caitlin
didn’t give up and requested, yet again, that the
chairman reconsider his ruling. With pure determination
and a little applause from the audience, the committee
chair reconsidered and granted Caitlin’s request. As an
aside, he suggested to his fellow committee members that
they watch out for Caitlin in the future, as she
would make a good senator!
The editor of School Zone
followed up with Caitlin to gain her perspective of the
trip to Tallahassee. Caitlin learned a great deal
from the experience. Here’s what Stanton Senior Caitlin Carroll
shared about her experience in Tallahassee:
Q: Did this experience
encourage you to become more active in the legislative
process?
A: This experience has
taught me that everyone should be active in the
legislative process. I, more than ever, want to be
informed of what is going on in our government. I feel
like a part of the legislative process, instead of
feeling as if all laws can only be made or changed by
important politicians. I definitely plan on staying
informed and actively fighting for or against laws I
feel strongly about.
Q: What was your
favorite experience?
A: My favorite part of the
trip was speaking in front of the Education
Sub-Committee. It was a rush to stand up in front of
the senators and public and speak on the issue that my
class and I had been researching for so long. I was
proud to represent them and all of our ideas and
thoughts on this issue.
Q: Did you learn
anything new about our legislative process by becoming
an active participant?
A: I was unaware of the
specifics of the law-making process before our trip to
Tallahassee. I now know exactly how a bill is created
and passed and who plays a role in this process. I also
am now much more aware of the job of a lobbyist and what
role that plays in our legislative process.
Q: Will you continue
to take an active role in legislative matters?
A: I now firmly believe if
there is an important issue to be addressed, it is
imperative that the public take action and address the
government. The phrase “for the people, by the people”
has taken on a whole new meaning for me. Individuals
and small groups really can make a difference if they
take the right steps. I would love to be a part of an
attempt to make a change in our legislation in the
future.
Q: Would you like to
share anything else about your experiences in
Tallahassee?
A: This trip was an amazing
learning experience. It truly opened my eyes to the
reality of our government and how political agendas can
sometimes cloud judgment. I was amazed at the bias
shown by some legislators who seemed to be obviously
allied with the tourist industry. It was kind of
disillusioning to see behavior such as this from a
Florida Senator. This trip has made me realize the
importance of educated voting and active participation
in one’s government. I am very thankful for the
opportunity.
Each of the students from
Stanton College Preparatory School who traveled to
Tallahassee made a difference by taking an active role
in the legislative process. According to Duval
County Public Schools Consultant Martin Miller, who
attended the January 24 hearing, “the students from
Stanton under their law studies teacher, David Holcombe,
were instrumental in getting the motion to be
reconsidered at the January 24 meeting. I do not
believe that would have occurred without their testimony
and presence at the meeting.”
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