Written by Newcastle News dot com ran a great story about Brett Crueger’s civics students providing assistance at the polls in the last election. This was a great experience for the youth, particularly since the polls may be largely disappearing in the near future– King County is soon switching to all-mail ballots. This experience will give the Hazen students something to tell their grandchildren about forty years from now.
Brett Creuger does an impressive job keeping his students motivated… I’ve seen his class in action. Many of us local elected officials have visited his civics class to talk with students about our public service jobs. In addition to teaching Social Studies, Mr. Creuger also directs and produces the schools dramatic production; I think his love of dramatic arts spills into his other teaching.
Here is the article from the Newcastle News…click the link at the bottom to read the full story.
Hazen students learn valuable hands-on civics lessons
December 9, 2008
By Chris Nguyen
Hazen High School seniors Carli Sowder (left) and Abbey Capistran assist a voter with a provisional ballot at Hazelwood Elementary School on Election Day. Photo contributed
More than 140 Hazen High School students contributed to the democratic process while working at polling sites Election Day throughout Newcastle, Renton and south King County.
As part of the county’s Youth with a Vision program, the students staffed nearly 50 polling stations. They had the opportunity to work in one of three key roles: greeters, provisional judges or AccuVote machine supervisors. Prior to the election, King County elections representatives traveled to Hazen to conduct a three-hour training session to prepare students for their duties.
Brett Crueger, social studies and theater arts teacher, spearheaded the group’s participation. He said school administrators were very supportive of the project. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the kids,” he said. “They’re going to remember how they contributed to the election for the rest of their lives.”
Youth are starting to show interest in their future and some schools have teachers willing to help them. Hazen is an excellent example. We had Lindbergh students (probably only about 12) help us with handing out flyers about annexation in the Benson Hill Communities area of Renton.
Dave
ten/eleven yrs ago when My daughter and I were on The Trip across the nation, Brett Crueger gave his class extra points for reading out journal. I don’t know if any did, but I appreciated his participation!
Thanks Brett!