April 23, 2007

BMR Students Participate in Mass. Student Government Day

BLACKSTONE…Two students from BMR high school participated in the 2007 Massachusetts Student Government Day held recently at the State House in Boston.

Alexandra Graves, a junior was selected to fill the role of student Attorney General, currently held in real life by Martha Coakley (D-MA).

The alternate BMR representative was senior class member George Sergi, 18 also a resident of Blackstone who was assigned to attend the event and “shadow” Graves during the day long event.

“As a woman, it was interesting to fill in for the first female attorney general in the Commonwealth” said Graves. “It was an interesting way to learn about state government” she said.

Together the pair joined high school students from throughout the Commonwealth to learn about how state government actually functions. They attended a simulated hearing by the joint committee on Education, a joint convention of the General Court, and separate House and Senate sessions.

Veteran BMRHS history and stret law teacher Peter Fedyszyn serves as local advisor for the program and commented on the value such “real life” experiences play in supplementing classroom work. “As a professional historian, I fully appreciate and endorse Student Government Day as a valuable educational tool for the students who participate in this annual event” said Fedyszyn. “By traveling to the State House and actually visiting the legislative chambers, meeting our legislators and other state officials many students get inspired to pursue careers in public service. The caliber of our future elected officials increases through the preparation and education they acquire through life and this experience is a great primer” said Fedyszyn.

Student Government Day is coordinated by the Massachusetts Department of Education. Participants receive a handbook containing an overview of state government, a glossary of legislative terms and two model statutes that are in turn debated and voted upon by the student solons.

Blackstone-Millville Regional High School was established in 1970. It consists of students from the towns of Blackstone and Millville and is located at 175 Lincoln Street in Blackstone, Massachusetts and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges.

IT’S THE LAW Peter M. Fedyszyn (left), Blackstone-Millville Regional High School faculty advisor to “Student Government Day’ reviews Mass. General Laws with Alexandra Graves (right), a junior, who filled the role of student Attorney General at the all-day program recently held in at the State House, Boston. (BMRHS Photograph.)