The three members of the Wetzel County Commission are making it their mission to promote understanding of the Commission’s duties and responsibilities amongst the eighth graders of Wetzel County. For the past three years, Commissioners Bob Gorby, Larry Lemon, and Don Mason have made personal appearances at four of the county’s middle schools. Working with the students’ social studies teachers, they arrange to give a presentation to the students, who are studying West Virginia history and county government as part of their civics curriculum. Each commission explains part of their duties, as students follow along in CCAWV’s informational brochure (each student gets a copy). The whole presentation takes 45 minutes to an hour. This year, excessive snow days made it more difficult for the teachers to take the time to focus on the essay contest. In spite of this, Commissioner Larry Lemon noted that one teacher, who had taken a group of eighth graders to the State Capitol during the legislative session, showed enthusiastic support for the contest, and even hoped to make it an assignment for students.

Commissioner Don Mason suggested that other commissions looking to reach out to students in their counties begin by contacting middle school principals or social studies teachers. Teachers are not always aware of CCAWV’s contest, he warned. Wetzel County Commission actually sweetens the pot for participating students by offering awards (the student wins $25 and the school wins $100) for the best essays within the county.

Thank you to the Wetzel County Commission for going above and beyond in promoting real understanding of county government in your schools!