Who Represents Me: American Politics Students Welcome Local Legislators

By Peter Lassey, History Department Chair

This fall, as eleventh and twelfth graders were studying the American system of representative democracy in their American Politics elective, they gained a personal window into New Hampshire and Maine governments through a series of visits from local politicians.

As part of a class project entitled “Who Represents Me,” each student drafted an invitation and reached out to local, state, and federal representatives and senators to come speak to the class. While many were busily campaigning for the midterm elections, two local representatives and one state senator took them up on the offer.

On October 14, 2022, New Hampshire State Representatives Jaci Grote (Rockingham 24) and Kate Murray (Rockingham 22) spoke with the class about their roles in state government, the electoral process, party politics, and the need for active civic participation. Following their visit, Maine State Senator Mark Lawrence (District 35) came and spoke at length about his personal journey from being a young, politically minded activist to pursuing a career in public service. Students were able to ask questions and not only gain a window into issues they had been discussing in class — the midterm elections, party politics, gerrymandering, ranked-choice voting, etc. — but also see firsthand how the national issues they care about are dealt with locally.

In the ever-changing landscape of American politics, the visitors’ genuine, straightforward, and down-to-earth approach resonated well with this group of young voters. As someone who just turned 18, Flynn Martin ’23 of Rye, New Hampshire, appreciated getting to know his representative and discovering how getting involved at the local level can make a difference.

Oalin Vivathana ’24 said the experience “gave us direct insight into the inner-workings of American politics, and provided a perspective I hadn’t previously understood.” Finally, Isabelle Conn ’23, who acknowledged feeling disconnected from and discouraged by the current political discourse on TV and social media, appreciated learning the “make-up of my local government, and that if I reach out…they’re actually likely to respond and consider my opinions.”

Democracy requires an educated and informed citizenry, and while students learn this concept in all of their history classes, it’s difficult for young people to accept it in today’s political climate. Having the opportunity to engage with the people doing the good work of government, however, provides students with an authentic look into how the system works and discover that their voices matter. As Representative Murray noted in her closing remarks, some bills in the House come down to one or two votes, and some elections come down to 10 or 12 voters, and, looking around the room, she said, “That’s you.”