Mullica School third-graders learn how to run government

From the Press of Atlantic City, May 26, 2010, Michelle Lee, Staff Writer. Several pictures are located on the Press website article.

So, are you smarter than a third-grader when it comes to New Jersey state trivia and politics?

Mullica Township officials considered that issue last week when 64 third-graders from Mullica Elementary School visited the municipal complex. The students got a hearty taste of local government when they met the entire Township Committee and everyone participated in a mock meeting complete with a flag salute, community reports and a public discussion.

The third-graders bombarded the politicians with questions about their work, such as "What's it like to be mayor?" "What's the hardest job?" and "What's the best part?" Several students got the opportunity to be in the political seats themselves, literally, when they pretended to be the mayor, committee members, township clerk and solicitor.

Mayor Michael St. Amour and Committeewoman Susan Polk said their governmental role is a big time commitment because they have to meet with many different people and work on a number of issues, such as creating new laws, keeping Mullica "green" and speaking to senior citizens.

"Sometimes you have to make decisions that make other people happy and others not as happy," St. Amour said. "It's like telling one class you can have only 10 minutes of playtime and another class has 20 minutes."

The children oohed and ahhed over a large black and white aerial photograph of Mullica Township, which hung on the courtroom wall. St. Amour showed the students the winding Mullica River, and he explained that there are a lot of gray areas in the picture because the township "is fortunate enough to have a lot of trees."

The high point for some of the third-graders, though, was playing a state and municipal government trivia game against Peter Berenato, the Superintendent of Public Works, and Patrolman Joseph Lupinetti. The students routinely outsmarted the adults on questions about the state tree, state fruit and the number of people on the Mullica Township governing body (one student did accuse them of "not trying hard enough.")

Izabelle Delross, 9, said "it was pretty neat" to defeat the grown-ups. Delross enjoyed finding out more about Mullica government and pretending to be a committeewoman. "The coolest thing I learned is all the different jobs they do to help the Earth and help the town," she said.

Sitting up on the political dais was a little unnerving for Jae-Lynn Gibson, who portrayed the township solicitor.

""I was nervous when I got up there because everyone was looking at me," she said. Gibson, 9, added that she quickly grew accustomed to it, especially when she remembered that her mother is a lawyer.

This was the fourth year in a row Mullica third-graders visited their public officials. Teacher Marci Galli said the field trip fits in well with their current lessons on citizenship. "For many of them, it's their first time in town hall, and they learn to feel connected to our town," she said.

St. Amour and Mullica Elementary School Principal Kevin Dugan said trips such as this one are important given its low cost and emphasis on civic engagement. Dugan said the township police officers and firefighters often visit the school and that could convince students to enter law enforcement, emergency services or become a community volunteer.

"We have to do things cheaper and more frugally," Dugan said about scheduling field trips within budget limitations. "But sometimes the best things are in your backyard."

'Are You Smarter Than A Third-Grader' trivia questions

Here's a sample of some questions

1. In New Jersey there are how many municipalities? a. 600 b. 566 c. 798

2. The term of office for the Mullica Committee members is? a. 10 years b. 1 year c. 3 years

3. The state bird of New Jersey is? a. blue bird b. hummingbird c. eastern goldfinch

4. The state tree is? a. red oak b. dogwood c. pine tree

5. The state fruit is? a. cranberry b. blueberry c. apple

Answers: 1B, 2C, 3C, 4A, 5B.