Speaking with a Municipal Official
Authored by: Betsy Fitzgerald, Erskine Academy

Grade Level:  K-2, 3-4  (adaptable for 5-8 age groups)

The MLR performance indicators listed below are for illustrative purposes. Depending on the focus of the lessons as developed by individual teachers, these indicators may or may not be addressed. Conversely this is not a definitive listing of all of the performance indicators which could be addressed in this lesson.

MLR - Elementary: Social Studies: Grades 3-4 (Civics A - 3, B -2); Language Arts: Pre-K - 2 (Reading A - 7),  (Information D - 1), (Writing/Speaking E - 1, 2, 3), (Conventions F - 1, 2),  (Research H - 1, 2, 3); Grades 3 - 4 (Literature B - 3), (Information D - 1, 2, 3), (Writing/Speaking E - 2, 3, 4), (Conventions F - 1, 2), (Research H - 1, 2)

Task Description

Students are learning about their communities, and would like to speak with an actual town official. An elected official would be a better choice, but a town manager could serve in this setting.

Student Products/Performances

Students must first decide what questions about their town they would like to ask the visiting official. They then prepare a letter of invitation to the official and include the questions. Questions could focus on the official's job, the responsibilities of a town official, the election process and how voters can complain and get results.

Resources

Note: MMA's resources were developed for older readers; however, they will supply the teacher with background material from which to develop and discuss the lesson.

Job Descriptions:

Town Manager
Town Clerk
Administrative Assistant to the Selectmen
Town Administrator
Code Enforcement Officer

Duties and Responsibilities of Elected Officials (Selectmen) from the MMA Handbook for Municipal Officers:

Executive and Quasi-Judicial Functions
Legislative and Quasi-Judicial Role

The Secret Ballot Election Process from the MMA Town Meeting & Elections Manual

Petitioning for change: Sample Petition and Petitions for Town Meetings [from Town Meeting and Elections Manual, MMA]

Letter-writing materials and sample letter formats.

Criteria for Evaluating Quality of Product or Performance

When the town official is visiting the classroom, students should be able to articulate their questions, ask any follow-up questions and make appropriate responses.

Writing a thank-you letter to the official might also be appropriate.