Haverhill High senior Emma Powell in front of her class (full photograph below).
Haverhill School Committee candidates for the upcoming Nov. 3 election are scheduled to take part in a student-run debate Friday morning at Haverhill High School.
Members of an Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. Government class at the high school will serve as panelists and two others will serve as moderators, according to Haverhill High instructor Thomas Jordan. The forum is also expected be recorded for public access television. A class spokesperson, Haverhill High senior Emma Powell, told WHAV a Constitutional Law class will be among student audience members during the forum to be held in the high school library. She said in addition to learning what the school committee does and asking candidates questions that matter to them, it is also to help generate interest in local politics among students in general.
“I really think it’s good to start talking about politics in high school before you leave. Of course not everybody is going to be majoring in political science, so it’s really good to get the common student to know about politics and why does that affect us, in general,” Powell said.
Powell, who plans to major in history, believes the experience will be “a really good exercise in public speaking.” She also noted student panelists will ask general and specific questions to the candidates.
“Last week they had a general meet and greet so we’re trying not to repeat any questions they had at that—or maybe elaborate on some of those. And then on Thursday the teachers, of course, are going to have a little debate with them too, so we’re trying not to repeat questions from that either,” Powell said.
Student moderators for the school committee candidates debate are Morgan Seale and Julia Fetty. The timekeeper is Matt Amedeo. All are seniors, Jordan said.
The AP U.S. Government class project falls under the umbrella of the high school’s Humanities Academy, according to Jordan. During the debate, students will have a scorecard, which they will complete.
“In the end, this is all about having the students become vested in the political process, from campaigns right through to policy implementation,” Jordan said. “It all starts locally.”
The high school’s AP U.S. Government class has held similar debates since 1999, according to Jordan.
Students of of an Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. Government class at the high school are organizing the school committee debate.
Tom Jordan is by far one of the best teachers at HHS.