Sixth years at St Joseph’s learn about democracy

The pros and cons of homework and school uniforms were among the topics sixth year politics students at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Rochfortbridge discussed at part of their mock citizen assembly.

Organised by the students with their politics teacher, Ms Duffy, the assembly opened when Callum Stack and Ellen Ward made presentations on the school topics mentioned above, and then led a debate on those topics; they then passed on the recommendations from each group to school management.

Oliver McGuire, Jack Lacey and Ella Sullivan took the second part of the assembly and concentrated on drug use in Ireland. There were lively conversations throughout the afternoon.

The experience offered students some understanding of the complex processes that underlie democratic decision-making, for many, the assembly was their first exposure to the concept of deliberative democracy, a model that involves citizens in decision-making.

Unlike traditional voting, where majority rules, deliberative democracy encourages discussion and consensus-building, focusing on informed debate and consideration of all perspectives. That approach has been adopted in countries like Ireland and France to tackle complex issues ranging from same-sex marriage to climate policy.

"Running this mock assembly was eye-opening," said Ellen, one of the organisers. "I learned a lot, and main thing was understanding deliberative democracy – how ordinary citizens can come together, deliberate on complex issues, and reach consensus-based decisions. I also learned the value of getting a wide range of opinions.

"As a sixth year, I have a completely different opinion of homework to a first year, and I believe listening to everyone’s opinion is vital. I also learned that people want to actively engage in local decision making but need a platform from which they can be heard."

Throughout the assembly, students took on the roles of participants, facilitators, and experts. As part of the process, they researched their chosen topics in-depth, presented evidence, and asked questions to help clarify misunderstandings and find solutions.

In a world where young people increasingly demand to have their voices heard, initiatives like this help shape informed, engaged citizens ready to contribute to their communities. This mock citizen assembly was a reminder that the next generation of voters is ready to be heard.