The Anne Arundel “County Council” voted down a resolution that would approve slot machines in the county.
Of course, this council isn?t old enough to use gambling machines.
High schoolers played the role of council members and county officials Monday as part a mock government exercise to introduce students to the workings of county government.
“I?ve discovered how open government can be, which to me came as a surprise,” said Jerome Grant III, a student at Annapolis Area Christian School who played the role of minority affairs director.
The 11th- and 12th-graders had to write an essay to enter the program. Not only were there mock elected officials, but also directors of all the various departments.
The students heard three county proposals:
» Approving zoning for slot machines;
» Placing an underage curfew at 11 p.m.;
» Banning the use of cell phones while driving.
The meeting ran like a real council meeting. In fact, Severna Park High School senior Erick Robinson, who followed the role of Council Chairwoman Cathy Vitale, R-District 5, conducted the meeting in a manner similar to Vitale.
“You learn that there is something beyond just taking a stance,” said Robinson, whose aspirations include working on Capitol Hill.
Unlike their adult counterparts, the students were far more blunt and critical of each other.
For example, during testimony on the slots bill ? which failed on a 5-2 vote ? one student talked of the potential social ills associated with slot machines.
North County High School student Logan Bryant, representing District 1, interrupted and said, “What you see as addiction, I see as revenue for the county.”
Noticeable during official testimony was the students? overabundant use of “like” and “you know.”
The council not only voted down slots, but the curfew as well.
The students unanimously supported banning cell phone use while driving. Many teen drivers can?t use cell phones while driving under current Maryland law.
The real council followed shortly after the junior council convened. The topics were less than controversial, and the dialogue was more constrained.
