When village officials met recently to discuss the possibility of passing a law that would fine parents whose teenagers are caught drinking alcohol in town, 16-year-old Michelle Kamins did not hesitate to speak up.
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“I think by just fining the parents the money, it’s not going to teach the kids any responsibility,” Michelle said. “If (kids are) going to go against their parents in the first place, they’re really not going to care” if their parents are penalized.
Michelle and several other Elk Grove High School students got involved with the dialogue at a trustees meeting through Student in Government Month, a program designed to give teenagers a better understanding of local government and how it works. It began Oct. 27 and ended Nov. 23.
During those four weeks, a total of 43 students from the student council, and political science and public service classes each were teamed with a village elected official or department head for a glimpse of the various duties associated with running a municipality.
“The aim is to increase awareness of local government and encourage increased interest in community participation among our young adults,” said Village President Dennis Gallitano.
Most of the students used their interests and future aspirations to help them chose an adult to follow, and then shadowed them at numerous board and committee meetings. The teens also observed the day-to-day operations of the officials’ jobs and provided input on certain issues.
Students who shadowed the police chief went on patrols to observe police activities, for example, while those who followed the village health inspector attended local inspections.
Among the other activities students participated in with their mentors were tours of the Northwest Central Dispatch System, where 911 calls are fielded for Elk Grove Village and five other towns; the Joint Action Water Agency, which sends 7 billion gallons of Lake Michigan water to the village; and the future site of the Super K mart.
“I’ve been kind of interested in government and politics for a while,” said Jennifer Kranig, 17, president of her senior class board and paired with Gallitano. “I got a better feel for politics and a feel for dealing with all different types of people.”