Students attend voting event

Submitted photo GIFTED YOUNG VOTERS: Hot Springs World Class High School gifted and talented students recently attended the Arkansas secretary of state office's Young Voter Workshop in Little Rock and were able to tour the state Capitol building. Hot Springs participants were front, from left, Rachel Snider, Kailey Mitchell, Aidan Hunter and Abigail Robertson, and back, from left, Elias Parker, Audreana Greene, Teaijah Lambert, Jonah Lawson, Sebastian Martinez and Eduardo Naranjo.
Submitted photo GIFTED YOUNG VOTERS: Hot Springs World Class High School gifted and talented students recently attended the Arkansas secretary of state office's Young Voter Workshop in Little Rock and were able to tour the state Capitol building. Hot Springs participants were front, from left, Rachel Snider, Kailey Mitchell, Aidan Hunter and Abigail Robertson, and back, from left, Elias Parker, Audreana Greene, Teaijah Lambert, Jonah Lawson, Sebastian Martinez and Eduardo Naranjo.

Gifted and talented students from Hot Springs World Class High School recently joined students from across the state to attend an Arkansas secretary of state program about voting in the United States of America.

International Baccalaureate coordinator Paula Redding helped Hot Springs School District GT coordinator Laura West, an advanced history teacher at Hot Springs Intermediate School, select 10 students based on recommendations from high school history teachers. The secretary of state's office holds several days of Young Voter Workshops during the school year.

"They brought up the topic about how many people think their vote does not matter," Elias Parker, a freshman at the high school, said. "They really hit the point that your vote actually does matter and the importance of voting. I think all kids should go to it or be informed about it."

Parker was recognized at the conference for completing the scavenger hunt requirements to begin the day. Students were required to respond with information about voting and meet fellow visitors from other schools.

"I had expectations and I thought it was going to be a cool field trip, but I really did learn a lot," Kailey Mitchell, who is also a freshman at the high school, said. "It was neat to socialize with other people and learn about government and how it works."

The group from Hot Springs also included Audreana Greene, Aidan Hunter, Teaijah Lambert, Jonah Lawson, Sebastian Martinez, Eduardo Naranjo, Abigail Robertson and Rachel Snider.

The latest Workshop was the second for Hot Springs students to attend. West traveled with a group in 2016 after Bethany Nick, education and visitor services coordinator for the secretary of state's office, presented a program to her classes about how bills become laws.

"They said how much fun it was that they learned so much," West said. "So many people do not realize the importance of voting and how important it is you are making the decisions for your future."

The conference featured various speakers and interactive activities to help students learn about voting. Parker said he most enjoyed the skit session, which taught students about the various voting systems in the U.S.

"Whenever we did our skit, I learned about the caucus," Parker said. "I had never heard of it."

Students engaged in debates about controversial current topics. One topic asked students if citizens should be required by law to stand during the national anthem and place their hands over their hearts.

"I said no because it would be one more step to dictatorship," Mitchell said. "That could go down a bad path."

Mitchell and Parker were among Hot Springs students who voiced their opinions during the debate sessions. They said it provided a rare forum for students to engage themselves and others about controversial issues.

"I liked the debate just because you didn't have to talk, but you could if you wanted to," Mitchell said. "They also said, 'Nobody asked about this.' They made you think more. As the questions went on, you could see everybody was thinking about it. It was cool."

"They let everybody talk," Mitchell added. "Some people changed their opinion after talking about it and listening to other people's opinions."

Sessions were held in Arkansas State University's Little Rock offices near the state Capitol building. Students were able to take a guided tour of the Capitol at the end of the conference.

Local on 11/06/2017

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