Draper fifth-graders review law process with politicians

Learning about the law-making process is part of the state core curriculum for fifth-grade students. However, when students took action to change the law, it showed they really understood the process, said Draper Elementary teacher Christine Heywood.

After learning about how a bill becomes a law and how lawmakers meet to discuss the impacts of making new laws, a Draper Elementary fifth-grade class spent two months learning about the impact construction trucks were making in their residential neighborhood.

“It’s been kind of scary for so many who walk or jog past the new high school being built to have so many construction vehicles driving past them,” fifth-grader Peyton Feurer said. “So we watched the area for two months, talked to people, asked truck drivers questions and then invited lawmakers to see what could be done. We gave them our presentation, which was kind of scary to do in front of so many people. But it was interesting, too, to see what they said about it and how they asked questions of us and each other.”

State Senator Wayne Niederhauser, Mayor Darrell H. Smith, Draper City Councilmember Troy Walker and two truck-drivers came to listen and discuss the residential zone truck speed limit. Through the process, Heywood said students learned who has jurisdiction of Fort Street, where much of the concern is, and how research is conducted to determine a safe speed limit.

“One of their concerns is about public safety and the truck route through their school and neighborhood and the speed the trucks are driving,” Smith said. “The city has a couple truck routes and there are national standards as to what kind of road it is and they help determine some of these factors. After I met with these students, I talked to an engineer to review the traffic in and out of these constructions areas and to make sure we are safe in speed and walking routes.”

In December, the request was still under review. The new Corner Canyon high school principal Mary Bailey said she was unaware of Draper Elementary students’ concern, but would work with the city council and mayor to ensure safety of the area.

Smith said that students learned a law couldn’t be made without considering everyone who would be affected by it. However, he was impressed by the extent of their research.

“I’m well aware of how many side roads are being used as mine has been used by trucks hauling dirt. These kids did their homework, their teacher did a superb job of teaching and it was good to get the take of a couple truck drivers,” Smith said.

One student, Cassidy Kummer, understands how dangerous it can be around construction trucks. His 31-year-old uncle, Dallas Prokopis, died Oct. 4, 2011, when he was hit by a truck in a construction area.

“It takes three football fields to stop when you’re driving 35 miles per hour,” Cassidy said. “There are so many construction trucks that I worry that what happened to my uncle could happen to any of us.”