Pemetic middle school students will present their thoughts on what the Declaration of Independence means to them personally and to their community in a public program at the Southwest Harbor Public Library on Monday, November 9th. Community members are encouraged to come to the library at 5:00 to see the students’ work and stay to hear their presentations starting at 5:30pm. This event is free and open to the public and is a collaboration between Pemetic School, MDI Historical Society, and the Southwest Harbor Public Library.

As part of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, teacher Lynn Bean-Ingram has been connecting the founding principles of equality, natural rights, and consent of the governed with issues facing our communities today, as seen through the eyes of students. Students explore how concepts like voting, peaceful protest, free speech, and student voice play out in our daily lives in a small town.

Working with MDI Historical Society executive director Raney Bench, students will consider the impact of voter turnout for town meetings and local elections, why peaceful protests are vital to the health of our democracy, and how students can use their voice to have a say in their community. From these discussions students will have the option of creating an original piece of art, poem, short speech or video, or a personal declaration, to share with the community at the library event. As the heart of democratic spaces, libraries are important places for research and conversation, which are essential for the democratic process.