Fort Plain participation in government class tackles policy making issues

“Just how effective is homework in school?” That is the question Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School senior Luke DeBoer asked during a recent project for his participation in government class.

During the project, teacher Katherine Sacco charged her 14 students with taking a public policy (think student parking and cell phone use in school), analyzing it, and trying to affect change. Mrs. Sacco gave her students about a month to complete the end-of-semester project.

“The class centered on learning the benefits of sharing information, debating it and discussing it, and how that discussion can lead to change,” she said. “It was about learning if they don’t like something, they can do something about it, and also do it properly.”

Luke researched homework statistics and compared repetitive homework to the homework that prefaces new topics. In his presentation in front of the class – and principal Deborah Larrabee – he used a PowerPoint and a chart created by author/lecturer Alfie Kohn.

“I was surprised by the results of some of the data,” he said. “The stats have shown that it’s actually better to extend the school day and offer homework on new information.”

Luke’s classmate, Bryan MacFadden, focused his project on the school’s policy of not giving over-the-counter medicine (aspirin and cough drops) to students.

“I tried to create a point, back it up, and go through it as much as I could,” he said. “Learning that process was important.”

Mrs. Sacco commended her students on their projects and said they performed well.

“It’s important for students to have the ability to communicate with peers, colleagues, and authority figures, she said. “Then, they can anticipate challenges and then create an action plain in a non-argumentative way."