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May 9, 2012
More than 40 Lafourche high school students got a peek at what it’s like to work as employee of city and parish government through the parish’s Government Day Program.
“I’d like to congratulate the students, and I commend them on participating in this program,” Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Weimer told the crowd last Monday. “This program will assist in student’s learning experience. They will learn about city and parish government and our system of democracy.”
Government Day began in Lafourche Parish during the 1950s, originally dubbed “Mayor for a Day.” In 1974, the program disbanded when the city council became part of parish government. It was later reinstated in 1982. The program has been a city and parish government-wide event for the last 18 years.
Students from E.D. White High School, Thibodaux High School, Central Lafourche High School and South Lafourche High School shadowed workers in parish positions including sheriff, parish council and school board members, parish president, registrar of voters and city positions like mayor, recreation director, city council administrator, police chief and public works director.
Participants were selected by school administrators and peers.
“Hopefully, today’s event will inspire you to public service and, even if you do not go to be a public servant, it will inspire you to be a better citizen,” Weimer said. “It is critical to have fully informed citizens because we have elected officials. We encourage students to get involved and stay involved.”
The day began at the Thibodaux courtroom of City Judge Mark Chiasson, where participants were ceremonially sworn in to the public official they were to shadow. During the event, each student learned about their official’s duties and responsibilities by accompanying them during daily activities.
“It says a whole lot about the Lafourche Parish officials who are participating in the event – their commitment to the parish and the system,” Weimer said. “This program allows them to teach on an annual basis, and they learn from the young people as well. This is also an excellent opportunity to meet people from other parts of the parish. We are one parish.”
Taylor Boudreaux, a junior at E.D. White, closely followed City Council Administrator Jenny Morvant.
“I’m a student council member, and I wanted to see how a city and parish government are run,” the student-turned-official said. “I want to learn what actually goes into decisions that affect citizens.”
City officials’ student shadows were immediately updated on local issues by Thibodaux Mayor Tommy Eschete. The discussion turned to the weekend’s firemen’s fair, proposed additions to the Schriever airport, installing surveillance equipment in the city’s new human resources buildings and opening the city’s pool.
Second-year participant Mackensie Dardar, a junior at Thibodaux High, praised the experience. “Last year, I shadowed City Council Administrator Jenny Morvant,” she said. “I liked what I did with her – walking around and seeing what her day was like.”
In her senior year, Dardar said she hopes to return to the program, possibly shadowing a judge or the parish sheriff. “I think that their jobs are very interesting as well.”
For E.D. White junior Sydney Landry, the program is an extension of a January trip to Washington, D.C.
“I saw the way [federal] government works, and I wanted to see how it works locally,” she explained. “I also wanted to see inside these buildings because I’ve never been in here before.”
Landry, too, hopes to return. “I’d like to shadow the chief of police or someone from the recreation department,” she said. “I’ll get to vote this year, so I’m really excited about that.”
Jenny Morvant, City Council Administrator in Thibodaux, shows students city council minutes from 1938. Morvant has been participating in Lafourche Parish Government Day for 14 years.
