The Governor’s Decision Room program is under way at the Michigan Historical Center, with more than 100 Michigan high school students since April learning new skills to make decisions, think critically and understand how past events in Michigan effect themselves and their community. The center is located at 702 W. Kalamazoo St. in Lansing.
Students from Jackson Western High School and Swan Valley High School in Saginaw County participated in the Governor’s Decision Room program on April 23 and 24. Frankenmuth High School and Lansing Everett have scheduled May visits.
Decision Room students complete three classroom modules that cover decision-making, the roles of the governor and his or her cabinet, and how to read primary resource documents. The capstone of the program is an onsite visit to the David and Betty Morris Learning Center, which is designed for the program.
Once at the center, students are immersed in a fast-paced, three-hour program that places them in the roles of the governor and his or her staff. In their roles, students react to events in real time as they are given copies of original time-specific documents. The first program centers on the events of Detroit in 1967.
“The Governor’s Decision Room gets students thinking not just about the facts and issues of the particular event and time period, it also gets them thinking about thinking,” said Erika Sponsler,ateacher at Jackson Western High School. “Students get to discuss, debate and decide – demonstrating in a natural way their skills in higher-level thinking. One of the best things I heard from my students after their experience was their greater respect for their elected officials after working through the decision-making process. They understood how hard the task is of serving all the people. That’s no easy feat for a group of sophomores!”
The program is supported by generous gifts to the Michigan History Foundation, which provide waived-fee scholarships and support for transportation. As it grows, additional topics will be developed by center staff working with high school teachers. State Archivist Mark Harvey, who leads the program, said, “We are excited by the students’ response to the program, and we hope to see a full schedule in the coming school year.”
For information on participating in the program, contact Rachel Clark at clarkr@michigan.gov or 517-335-3192.
For more information on the Michigan Historical Center, go to www.michigan.gov/michiganhistory or call 517-373-3559.
Admission fees for the Michigan Historical Museum are $6 for adults 18-64; children through age 5 are free; youth ages 6-17 may pay an optional $2; and seniors 65 and up are $4. Annual passes are available, and there is no admission charge on Sundays.
The center and visitor parking are on the north side of Kalamazoo Street, two blocks east of M. L. King Jr. Boulevard. Weekend parking is free.
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