People’s Academy Students Join Other VT Student Leaders
People’s Academy middle and high students visited the Statehouse on Wednesday, January 28th for “Prevention Day”, an annual celebration of initiatives to create healthier communities in Vermont. Prevention coalitions and youth groups from around the state came together to be recognized for their contributions to preventing alcohol and drug use, making their schools and communities safer and healthier for all.
The eight students first took a tour of the statehouse then met with Representative Avram Patt who spent his lunch hour talking to the students about his job as a representative of the people and answering their questions. House Speaker, Shap Smith invited the group to join him in his office. While he enjoyed his lunch, he asked the students about life at their school, their concerns about what they experienced there and in the community and answered their questions of him. All of the students indicated that they appreciated their prevention group facilitator, Peter Hathaway (Student Assistance Professional) and that they also had teachers who made them feel like their concerns were heard and that they were supported in their efforts to deal with drug use and other risky behaviors they saw going on at school. Two things were of great concern to the group. A high number of students at PA do not eat breakfast daily. They contend that if students are hungry, they’re not able to focus, learn, and be their best selves. One of the students asked Speaker Smith if he thought marijuana should be legal in Vermont. He responded that he has serious reservations about legalization and it would be good to watch what is going on in the states that have legalized before Vermont takes up the question in the House of Representatives. He said he does not believe that it will make it to the floor for a vote this year.
This question about marijuana legalization opened the door for most of the students in the room to share their opinions on marijuana use and legalization. The students feel that marijuana is a large problem for youth in their community. One participant estimated that she knows at least 30 students who use regularly. Other concerns were that legalization would send a message to teens that marijuana was not harmful (they all believe it is harmful), that there would be increased availability to marijuana, and youth would be at greater risk of harm due to lack of parental supervision if parents were using marijuana. This last concern was echoed again in our car ride back to Morrisville. The students noted that if parents are struggling with addictions – alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, or other drugs – they most likely have less time and resources for their children and cannot be a healthy role model.
In addition to visiting Representative Patt and Speaker Smith, the students had a rich visit that they will likely remember for a long time! Other highlights were the freedom to explore the statehouse on their own and sit in on committee meetings in the morning. One student was curious about whether other states’ statehouses were accessible to the public. They learned that Vermont has one of the most open statehouses in the country where visitors can roam freely and engage in the democratic process. The students were led on interactive tour by the Capitol’s Assistant Curator where they learned about fossils in the limestone blocks in the floor, visited the governor’s office (he was out of State), learned about the extensive art collection housed in the statehouse and visited the Senate and House of Representatives. The most impressive aspect of the House of Representatives was the acoustically “magical” spot that amplifies one’s voice. The two high school students with the group took the opportunity to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Later the students sat in the balcony overlooking house floor where Representative Patt introduced them. This was significant as it was his first time addressing the House Floor and only the second time that Worcester has had a representative since the redistricting occurred. The students were also able to meet other student leaders; meet local farm lobbyist, Bill Moore; and eat lunch in the bustling dining hall.
The students were accompanied by Peter Hathaway, Student Assistant Professional; Kelly Saphier, ELL Specialist for Lamoille South Supervisory Union; Carol Plante, Coordinator of Healthy Lamoille Valley; and Jessica Bickford, who is responsible for the student engagement projects for Healthy Lamoille Valley. The group went at the invitation of Prevention Works!, a statewide coalition of community prevention coalitions.