Pictured: Deer Park High School seniors Shannon D’Amato, Blessing Fraser, Emily Kleiber, Hamza Latif, Yasmine Sanchez and Alyssa Skeen were selected to participate in Student Day at the Suffolk County Legislature in Hauppauge.
Photo courtesy of Deer Park School District
Deer Park High School seniors Shannon D’Amato, Blessing Fraser, Emily Kleiber, Hamza Latif, Yasmine Sanchez and Alyssa Skeen were recently selected to participate in Student Day at the Suffolk County Legislature in Hauppauge. At the event, sponsored by both the Suffolk County Legislature and the League of Women Voters, the six students met with local legislators and members of the Suffolk County Police Department.
The event culminated in a student-led debate on a proposed resolution before a mock legislature, centering on arming school safety officers and SCPD officers working in Suffolk County schools. Students were assigned sides, allowing them to view the proposal from multiple viewpoints. For the debate, students were given the role of “Legislator” or “Member of the Public.” Prior to the debate session, students met in separate caucus meetings to discuss strategy.
“The day provided our students with an inside look at how their local government functions as well as allowing them a voice on a topic very personal to them,” said Vanessa Langdon, Deer Park’s curriculum associate for secondary social studies and FACS. “All students participating were insightful and respectful. In reflecting on the experience, our students were very grateful to not only be awarded the opportunity to participate but, more importantly, to feel they were being heard.”
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