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Middletown Students Educate Classmates on
Voting Rights in LWV Program
TheJournalNJ.com | MAY 2021 27
At a time when the status of civic education in America is being
seriously queried, Middletown High School South students
and their teachers worked with the League of Women Voters
(LWV) to present the history of enfranchisement in the United States
of America. The program is part of initiative by the LWV of Monmouth
County called Energizing Young Voters. As the high school observed
a hybrid schedule, the presentation was simultaneously presented in
school and in a webinar.
Five Middletown students – Jessica Hoffmann, Scott Melski, Charlotte
Parauda, Lillian Hardwick and Sophia Luna – narrated the hourlong,
virtual Google presentation.
“I have recently increased my involvement with Middletown's
League of Woman Voters to promote both registering to vote and explaining
the disparity that existed in who was and was not allowed to
vote in this country, including some of the differences that still exist to
this day,” Melski said. “Allowing my generation's voice to be heard and
allowing students at South to have a say in society has always been a
priority to me in high school.”
Twenty other students played the interactive roles of voter avatars
patiently awaiting their turn along the arduous timeline for their right
to vote. When they won the right to vote, they were told to turn on their
cameras in the virtual presentation.
“This resonated a lot with me because the visual aspect of this portion
really showed how long it took for everyone to gain the right to vote
The League of Women Voters in Monmouth County has created civic
educational programs over the past few years that aim to empower
young voters and help them learn how to defend democracy. The director
of education, Patricia Supplee, explained, “We have designed and presented
various civic educational programs both in person and virtually
to over 16 school districts in Monmouth County, and in school districts
as far south as Cumberland County and as far north as Bergen County.
In addition, we have worked in several New Jersey universities and with
various statewide educational and civic organizations. We work with and
seek collaboration with educators, particularly social studies and civic education
teachers, and community leaders.”
In Middletown High School South, that collaborator is social studies
teacher Anthony Nemati, who welcomed the League of Women Voters to
High School South for a presentation on how to vote in the unusual 2020,
mostly mail-in-ballot election.
The League of Women Voters welcomes collaborations with all
school districts and civic organizations. For more information, visit EnergizingYoungVoters.
com or email energizingyoungvoters@gmail.com.
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