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University Gives Children Taste of Democracy
Bath Spa University is holding a Primary Schools Parliament this week for children throughout the Bath and North East Somerset area.
Pupils from 40 schools will be taking part in a day of debate at the University's Newton Park campus, where they will discuss proposals aimed at improving the lives of children. The event, on Tuesday 29 June, has been organised in collaboration with B&NES Children's Services.
This is their message to the media:
"We are the children of the schools parliament organisation team (SPOT) and we have been planning the 2010 primary schools parliament which this year is all about choices. Our names are Jack, Harriett, Meredith, Phoebe, Oliver, Megan, Anna, Matilda.
The children's parliament is important because it may change children's lives.
We would like you to come and report on the schools parliament.
We are expecting pupils from 40 schools and we are going to be in charge.
We invited local M.P.s, social workers and the head of childrens services at BANES.
It is on June 29th (Tuesday) at 9:30am-2:30pm at Bath Spa University."
At the first ever Primary School Parliament last year the idea which drew the most support from its young delegates was to provide disabled access in local swimming pools. It has since been introduced at Bath Sports Centre.
This time the children themselves have been involved in planning the Parliament. A group of pupils from four schools (Weston All Saints, Three Ways Special School, Pensford Primary and Chewstoke Primary) worked with staff from Bath Spa University and the Children's Society to agree the agenda for the day.
The theme is 'children's choices', which they will debate in the morning with the aid of posters made previously in class, and will then put to a panel of adults in the afternoon. This panel will include Director of the Children's Society Jim Davis, B&NES councillors Sally Davis and Bryan Chalker, and Mike Bowden from B&NES Children's Services.
Bath Spa University Vice-Chancellor Professor Frank Morgan said: "We are privileged to be hosting this event. The involvement of so many schools will ensure a lively learning experience and a lot of fun for all the children."
The Parliaments are proving so successful that Bath Spa University will also be hosting the first Secondary Schools Parliament on Friday 9 July.
Press Release Issued 28 June 2010 by School of Education.
