April 25, 2003

NHS students to study city issues

By JILL ANDERSON

Staff writer

NEWBURYPORT -- Over the next few weeks, high school civics teacher Matthew LaChapelle doesn't want residents to be alarmed if teenagers approach them inquiring about their opinions on city issues like parking, elementary school needs or affordable housing -- it's all part of their school work.

In an effort to familiarize students with local government and how it operates, LaChapelle created a special project which involves the students contact their local representatives.

LaChapelle said most people don't think about local government until they are forced to go to City Hall for some reason.

"They see President George Bush and Gov. Mitt Romney in the news all the time," LaChapelle said. "They see City Hall as just a place to send their parking tickets to."

So, LaChapelle started thinking about different ways to have the students reach out to city government.

The assignment has four different parts including:

• learning about the Newburyport representatives and their job
• exploring local political issues
• civic involvement of the public
• reflecting on what they've learned

LaChapelle admits a lot of the students selected their issue based on what bothered them about the city. Among the most popular focuses include elementary school needs and downtown parking.

He encouraged the students to bring their issues and concerns to their ward representatives or the mayor, who he said responded favorably to the assignment.

Three civics classes made up of about 40 seniors are participating in the assignment.

As part of the assignment, the students must poll 100 people in three different age groups. LaChapelle said he felt it was important to advocate the public's opinion.

"I have some students that are really excited," LaChapelle said admitting that there were also some seniors who weren't ready to do the work for their last month of school.

"It's an overwhelming and daunting task," LaChapelle said. "They have a little over a month to do it."