After the summer, children from primary schools in Aa and Hunze can think about what is going on in their municipality. In the new school year there will be its own children’s council and a children’s mayor.
The children’s council consists of students from groups 7 and 8 from various schools in the municipality. The intention is to introduce children to democracy in an accessible way. They are also allowed to discuss the plans for certain projects.
The proposal for the children’s council was not a hammer blow. VVD and Municipal Interests doubted whether it was a good idea. The parties are not sure whether the municipality can properly reach all children with a children’s council. It could also put extra pressure on the schools’ already packed schedule.
Mayor Anno Wietze Hiemstra found both arguments incomprehensible. According to him, both school umbrella organizations in the municipality indicate that they think the children’s council is a good idea.
The intention is that the members of the children’s council take everything they discuss together to their own school and share it with their fellow students.
“The children want it, the schools want it, why not you? Do you have so little confidence that things will go well?” Hiemstra asks both parties.
The councilors of VVD and Gemeentebelangen need fifteen minutes for consultation after the mayor’s speech. When they return, they announce that they will vote in favor of setting up the children’s council.
“Although we do think that our feelings are being played on,” says councilor Alja Boelen of Municipal Interests. In the end, only her party colleague Piet Wolters voted against, because he felt too much pressure from the mayor.
For a group of children who anxiously awaited the decision in the council chamber, it made no difference. With an enthusiastic ‘yeah!’ and they walk out of the town hall with a big smile.