Four MSHS students participate in Rose’s Youth Advisory Council

The legislative process is something students learn about in the classroom, but rarely have an opportunity to see in action or participate in.

But four students from Mahomet-Seymour High School joined dozens of high school students from the Illinois 51st Senate District to participate in a unique, hands-on experience in public policy, state government, and leadership and heard from local leaders on those issues as part of State Sen. Chapin Rose’s Youth Advisory Council at Parkland College on Dec. 7.

MSHS Civics Teacher Amber Gibbard stayed throughout the day with students Nicholas Uken, Drew Tee, Lindsey Hodges and Tim Glumac.

“Mr. Rose does a really nice job of contacting all of the schools in the area,” Gibbard said. “This year I didn’t have any kids off the top of my head. These kids actually came and approached me about coming this year.

“At that point, how can you say no if you have kids that want to be involved in the process?”

Hodges and Glumac recruited their classmates after participating in the Youth Advisory Council during the fall and spring sessions last year.

“Last year I really enjoyed this,” Glumac said. “I thought it was a great forum; I was surprised at how similar the views of the students were across the region.”

Gibbard said she wanted the students who participated in the event to meet their peers from other school districts and learn that the political process “doesn’t have to be contentious.”

Before students began to hear from a variety of speakers including CEO and Founder of H-Squared Leadership Institute Habeeb Habeeb, University of Illinois Community and Government Relations Director Robert Flider and Mayor of Champaign Deb Feinen, among others, the students heard from Senator Rose.

Rose talked to students about local topics such as the Mahomet Aquifer, industry in Illinois, how districts are set up and how, although the media highlights contention between parties, most politicians work together to create common good for the state.

Hodges, who enjoyed working on a mock bill during the spring session of the Youth Advisory Council in 2018, said her favorite part of the experiences was listening to ideas of others.

“Through the classes we’ve taken, we know how the political process works, but we’ve never sat in a room and be able to speak to a Senator and be able to come up with our own ideas,” she said. “I think it’s good to know the opinions of other students in the area. Because we’re in Mahomet all the time, but what are other topics, ideas and opinions? I think it’s good to know.”

Between speakers, students were encouraged to discuss political topics and participated in activities. Tee and Uken said that those discussions were what they were looking forward to most.

“I hope to gain some knowledge about how to be in a formal situation with stuff like politics and how to have a discussion without someone losing their mind,” Tee said.

“I have an idea of what I believe in, but I hope by being able to discuss with other people, I’d have information to back that up,” Uken said.

Hodges’ group, which discussed Special Education, wanted to provide legislation that would help students in the program to be encouraged to do what they are capable of doing.

“Personally, I think there needs to be some type of reform, and standards that teachers must meet,” she said.

“There are some now, but teachers aren’t being held accountable, and lots of things are left to them to decide what they get to do. Lots of kids who have needs are capable of learning to read, write and do math. They’re not being taught these things because it’s ‘not in the curriculum’ or ‘not a part of life skills classes.’ ”

Glumac said his favorite part of the day was hearing from Mayor Feinen.

“I enjoyed hearing her stories about running for office,” he said.

“My favorite part of her speech was when she talked about the ways her administration has fostered economic development in key commercial districts. I learned about the presence of TIF districts for the first time as well.”

The Youth Advisory Council will meet again at the Illinois State Capitol where they’ll experience even more of the legislative process.