GRAMBLING, La. — Lincoln Preparatory School students received a firsthand lesson in democracy this week as the school partnered with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office to conduct school-wide student elections using an experience modeled after Louisiana’s voting process.
Representatives from the Secretary of State’s Office visited Lincoln Prep on Monday, August 31, providing students with an opportunity to experience the voting process while learning about elections, civic responsibility and the importance of making their voices heard.
Rather than limiting civic education to the classroom, Lincoln Prep used the school-wide elections to give students a practical understanding of how citizens participate in democracy. “Preparing students for the future means preparing them to be active and informed members of their communities,” said Rashid Young, Executive Director/CEO of Lincoln Preparatory School. “Our students should understand that their voices matter and that civic participation comes with both rights and responsibilities. We are grateful to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office for helping us turn that lesson into a real experience for our students.”
The initiative is part of Lincoln Prep’s broader effort to expand experiential learning and expose students to opportunities beyond traditional classroom instruction. School leaders say partnerships with state agencies, universities, businesses and community organizations will continue to play an important role in preparing students for college, careers, leadership and civic life.
Lincoln Prep also thanked Caleb, John, Doug and Dustin from the Secretary of State’s Office for working directly with students and helping demonstrate how the voting process works. “As educators, we want our students to leave Lincoln Prep prepared not only to earn a diploma, but to lead, and contribute,” Young added. “Experiences like this help us develop the next generation of voters, community leaders and public servants.”