Nottingham Students Celebrate Constitution Day with Hands-On Civics Lesson

“The Constitution matters,” Nottingham teacher Don Little said to the group of students gathered in the school library. “Your voice matters. Your rights matter. Don’t forget that.”
 
In celebration of Constitution Day on September 17^th, the anniversary of the ratification of the United States Constitution, Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter stopped in to speak with students about the legislative process in New York State.
 
The Assemblywoman and members of her staff worked with small groups of AP Government and SUPA U.S. History students to play a board game that demonstrates the process of how a bill becomes a law in New York.
 
“We’re at a press conference… we’ve got the media there. What are we going to say? This is your chance to really reach people,” an aide said to one group as they progressed through the game.
 
Students voted on a piece of legislation to represent as they played. They settled on a bill currently in the Assembly which would ensure access to mental health records when someone seeks firearm access.
 
“I knew state government was complex, but I didn’t know just how much!” senior Michael Nguyen explained. “It was great to meet the person who represents our area and to see how she is rooting for us. It’s empowering to see the power she has and especially to see that she is a veteran and a woman of color.”
 
“I didn’t know how many people are involved in the legislative process,” senior Nyla Hardy added. “It was cool to learn how the community can directly get involved by telling our representatives what kinds of things we want to be put into law.”
 
Assemblywoman Hunter encouraged all students who are at least 16 years old to pre-register to vote; and told them about the paid Assembly internship program available to college students who may be interested in pursuing the field of law or politics.
 
Thank you to Assemblywoman Hunter for bringing Constitution Day to life for these Nottingham students, and for Mr. Don Little for organizing the engaging activity!