PRESS RELEASE

Contact:   Kathryn Mathieson    (802) 828-2148  

For Immediate Release:    February  16, 2005

Town Meeting Curriculum Teaches Vermont Children

The Importance of Direct Democracy

Secretary of State Produces Curriculum for Vermont’s Elementary and Middle School Students 

Montpelier. Today, Secretary of State Deb Markowitz announced the availability of free curriculum materials that teach Vermont’s elementary and middle school students the importance of Vermont’s town meeting.  The curriculum packets and teachers guide have been sent to schools across Vermont.

Markowitz said, “These curriculum materials are designed to help our children learn about the importance of Vermont’s Town Meeting Day.  We also hope that the materials in these booklets will help students think about how town meeting can continue to be a vital part of Vermont’s community experience.”  According to Markowitz, the curriculum materials include text as well as suggestions for classroom activities to help students learn the value of participatory democracy and experience the concepts addressed in the written materials. The materials are indexed to Vermont’s Framework of Standards so that they can be easily integrated into the teacher’s lesson plan.

The Town Meeting Coloring and Activity Book is designed as an early elementary curriculum.  It includes basic information about Vermont’s town meeting with easy-to-color pictures and other fun activities. Markowitz said, “We are also encouraging Vermont’s town clerks to have copies of the the Town Meeting Coloring and Activity Book on hand to keep young children busy at town meeting!”  

Town Mouse and Country Mouse Go To Town Meeting is a 25 page booklet designed to teach students in grades 3-5 about Vermont’s Town Meeting Day, its history and how it works today.  In addition to the text, fun puzzles are included to help teachers assess student learning.  The teacher’s guide includes sample discussion questions/answers and classroom activities to supplement the reading materials and help children experience the concepts addressed in the booklet.

Town Meeting – A Vermont Tradition is a middle school curriculum that is designed to help students learn about Vermont’s Town Meeting Day, its history and how it works today. The booklet includes suggestions for classroom activities to help students learn the value of participatory democracy. The supplementary articles and classroom activities in the accompanying Teacher’s Guide are designed to complement the students’ reading and stimulate classroom discussion.

Town Meeting Day Curriculum booklets are available on line at www.sec.state.vt.us or by calling Kathryn Mathieson at 802-828-2148.

#30

_____________________________________________________________________

PRESS ADVISORY

_________________________________________

 Contact:   Kathryn Mathieson    802-828-2148

For Immediate Release: February 17, 2005

_________________________________________________________________

Secretary of State to Honor Vermonters

with Democracy Awards

Democracy Awards

Friday, February 18^th at 3:30 P.M.
Vermont State House Cafeteria
Montpelier, Vermont

Montpelier. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz and featured speaker Chief Justice Paul Reiber will honor Vermont citizens who have demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting the tenets of democracy, particularly in the course of the last election. Markowitz will present three awards from the National Association of Secretaries of State and three Enduring Democracy Awards. Recipients include educators, legislators, students and members of the news media.

The awards presentation will be held on Monday February 18^th at 3:30 P.M. in the State House.
****************************************************************

Honoring Democracy Award Winners
National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Awards

Denise Barnard, Board of Civil Authority, Richmond
Earl Haynes, Rutland Herald
Shira Sternberg, Bennington College

 Vermont Secretary of State
Enduring Democracy Awards

Burlington Free Press
Lawrence Coffin, Oxbow High School, Bradford
Judy Crowley, Former Legislator, Rutland

 #30

____________________________________________________________________