Joanne Williams
Editor

(Joanne Williams/FAN: Eaton Rapids Mayor Pamela Colestock helped fourth graders learn about government, especially the workings of the council and the responsibilities of the citizens of the city.)

What do you get when you empower fourth graders?

A meeting with your city’s mayor.

“Community Matters: Learning to Speak Up” was a civics lesson tailored by two Michigan State University interns as part of their experience in the classroom.

Student teachers Haylee Jasinski and Sierra Spallone oversaw the six-week project, under the supervision of Greyhound Intermediate School’s fourth grade teachers. They combined fourth grade classes for the project. Fourth grade teachers included Catherine Clubb and Tifanny Foote.

   (Joanne Williams/FAN: Student teachers [from left] Haylee Jasinski and Sierra Spallone produced the “Community Matters: Learning to Speak Up” curriculum for the fourth graders.)

 

First, the students and teachers took a walk in their Eaton Rapids community. They looked for any problems they thought should come to the city’s attention.

Then, they went to their classrooms and wrote letters to the city. There were two main themes: the need for more trash cans and the welfare of the general environment.

Mayor Pam Colestock was more than excited to meet with about 50 of these young citizens.

“Good morning, Mayor Colestock,” the students spoke, greeting her in unison.

For about 15 minutes, Colestock explained her job as mayor,  how the city is run, and how as a voter it is a “civic duty to help” grow the community.

She told the students that she shared the letters with council members and the Downtown Development Association. 

The students asked questions for about a half hour, about two dozen, mostly about the issues in the letters they had written: graffiti, trash, the Horner Mill site, some walking bridge repair work needed, new activities in town, and even deer populations.

The students also asked about the mayor’s job, and state and national issues, including the cost of gas. Colestock answered each question and comment clearly. 

She told them when the city addressed the trash can issue, which it will, she will let them know.