On Monday, Feb. 16, democracy was on display as Craftsbury students held a mock town meeting, learning how voices are critical to the school community.
The meeting was facilitated by Jeannine Young, Craftsbury Town Moderator, and by student Co-Moderator, Hyla Thompson, fifth-grade student.
Craftsbury town officials, including Town Clerk Michelle Warren, supported the event.
Students opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and community member, Don Houghton, led students in a song all about town meeting.
Thompson, called the meeting to order with a gavel.
The students were presented with two articles to hold discussion and vote on.
First, they decided whether to dedicate the day of May 29 to planting the school garden instead of the already scheduled community service activity of greening up the Minden playground and painting the fence on the Common. Students discussed various pros and cons of each experience, including asking if they could paint the Common fence blue.
In the end, an amendment to the article was proposed by Lincoln Robillard, fourth grade, and students voted to split the afternoon between both community service activities.
Second, students weighed the decision of using the $100 currently allocated for ice cream-making for field day to instead be used to buy supplies for grades three to five dedicated to an art project. After much discussion, including the importance of having a cool treat on a hot day, students voted to continue with ice cream making this year.
