Students from Advanced Placement Government classes at Massapequa High School attended a civics summit on Oct. 28 at Nassau Community College. The program included speeches, breakout sessions and networking opportunities.
The 20 students from Dan Bachman’s and Laura Siegel’s classes interacted with other high school students from across Long Island. There were keynote speeches from Jim Coll, a retired NYPD detective who is an adjunct professor of constitutional history at Hofstra University, and Col. Keith M. Nightingale, a highly-decorated veteran of the U.S. Army Rangers who has served in various missions around the world.
Students participated in sessions on topics such as the Incredible Election of 1800, the Legislative Branch and the Constitution, Amendment and the Media, and Supreme Court Decisions from Long Island Schools and Education.
Senior Kaia Mueller attended a workshop on the free speech case of Morse v. Frederick, and students debated the two sides before hearing the outcome. They also learned how the case of Tinker v. Des Moines set the precedent for the Morse case ruling.
“It was really interactive,” Kaia said. “It was interesting to see how one case applied to another.”
Bella Taylor said she enjoyed exploring the process of law-marking, as she participated in a breakout session in which students had to propose a law and debate its merits. Amanda Kammerdener said it was interesting to learn about the history and purpose of the Electoral College and its first test in the election of 1800.
Students also met Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz and attended an Operation Democracy presentation.
“It was cool to talk to new people,” senior Nick Signoretti said. “I learned how to be more involved, such as through community service and voting.”
Jason Gelardi, Massapequa’s curriculum associate for social studies, said that this was a good experience for students as the district is offering the Seal of Civic Readiness for the first time this year.
