Civics Class Is More Important Than Ever
(New Bedford) - How does our government actually work? That’s what civics classes at GLCPS teach us.
In 8th grade, civics is taught by Ms. Lehning, and in high school, it’s an elective class taught by Mr. Michael. Both aim to help students learn more about how our government works and how people can get involved.
Students say Ms. Lehning’s class focuses on learning about the government’s past and present, current issues, and what it means to be an active citizen. Ms. Lehning said, “It helps them know their rights and responsibilities and how they can work within the government to make markable future changes.”
Her class seems to have left an impact. 8th grader Jennifer Cabral said, “It really changed my opinions on certain topics and things that have happened, and made me more open minded. I try not to be biased.” Another student, Jasmine Cabral, added, “It gives us a good perspective on what is happening.” Students feel like they’re learning in a way that actually sticks with them, and some even get inspired to think about careers. “More students should take it because it gives us new ideas for careers and it is one of my favorite classes,” said Stacey Rivas.
In high school, Mr. Michael’s civics class focuses more on understanding real-world issues and how to speak up about them. Since it’s only open to juniors and seniors, the goal is to prepare students for adulthood. “Civics is all about the knowledge that one needs to be an informed citizen.” Mr. Michael continued, “This is more important than ever in our country today because few people take the time to investigate issues or advocate for a position in an informed way.” Senior Veronika Horsky shared what she’s taken away from the class. “This class has taught me the importance of research and advocacy. This was a lesson I learned mostly from the State House field trip,” she said. She even mentioned civics as a fun and helpful way for younger students to learn about how our government functions early on.
For a lot of students, civics helps them stay informed. Stacey Rivas said, “Now every time I walk past the television when getting ready in the morning, I always stop to listen because the news is on.”
At the end of the day, these classes do more than just teach facts. They get students thinking about the world around them, help them form their own opinions, and show them how they can make a difference. Whether it’s through voting, speaking up, or even running for office one day, civics class at GLCPS is the first step.
Kyle Keough is a senior at GLCPS. As part of his senior internship program, he is writing news articles for and about the GLCPS community.
