PHOTO: Gulargambone Central School students battle it out with shire councillors watching on.
Gulargambone Central School students role-played a council meeting on Tuesday 10 March, performing a discussion on an interesting topic to the Coonamble Shire’s councillors.
The mock meeting set out to decide whether students should make the school rules or teachers.
Four students on each side of the meeting discussed their arguments, but it was the makeshift Mayor, Sailor Ryan, who had the final vote.
Giggles and laughs erupted from the Coonamble Shire Councillors and staff watching the debate table, as issues around age and maturity were thrown around the school hall.
There were also points made that gave both the opposition and the councillors food for thought.
“‘Kids know what is right for them,’ one of the ‘for students’ argument said.
The vote came back with four councillors for the students, and four for the teachers, leaving the tie breaker to the mayor and grade 10 student, Sailor Ryan.
Gavel in his hand, he declared the teachers are most fit to rule the school, and with a bang, the meeting was closed.
Gulargambone Central School Principal Michael Spora said the mock council meeting taught the students about the local government processes in an interactive activity.
The students sat in for the real Coonamble Shire Council that kicked off right after their discussion.
“It’s great for kids to learn that aspect of civics,” he said.
“It’s a very good insight to see the mechanisms of how council actually operates.”
Sailor Ryan said while it was interesting it was not something he could see a future in.
“I didn’t know what they were talking about,” he said.
“Did it inspire me? Nah probably not.”
Students from Year 6, 8 and 10 took part in the debate, while the other year levels were taking NAPLAN exams.