LALOR students had a taste of politics when “parliament” came to St Luke’s Primary School last week.
The grade 5 and 6 pupils became politicians for a day and were joined by Scullin MHR Harry Jenkins under the Parliament Alive program.
Students role-played being prime minister, government ministers and backbenchers, pretending to change laws and form a government.
Principal Franca Fedele said it allowed students to experience democracy.
“We would have loved to have taken our students to Canberra to view parliament first-hand, but instead we have brought parliament to our community,” she said.
“Our year 5 students have been studying the importance of decision-making in life and are questioning the importance of well-informed and vibrant discussion.
“The grade six students are beginning to study…the importance of wise and effective governments representing the needs of the citizens.”
Mr Jenkins said the role-playing, complete with props and costumes, helped students understand parliament.
“Students will come away with a greater understanding of how to make and change laws, how to form and scrutinise the work of the government and what duties local members of parliament undertake in Canberra.”
Year 7 students at Mill Park Secondary College also held a mock parliament day last week.
The Parliament Alive program is a Parliamentary Education Office outreach program for primary and secondary students.
It brings role-playing politics to the classroom and targets schools unable to visit Parliament in Canberra.
