It wasn't Council President Blaine Griffin presiding over Friday's "Cleveland City Council" meeting — it was 13-year-old Myasiah Vanhoose.
The student was part of a group of children from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's Clara E. Westropp Elementary School gathered in City Council chambers to conduct a mock council meeting. The "legislation," proposed by Ward 17 Council Member Charles Slife, sought to charge a $5 admission fee to city playgrounds.
Some students assumed the role of public commenters, expressing their support or opposition of the measure, while others acted as council members, asking questions and ultimately voting to strike down the proposed ordinance.
"I learned more about law," said eighth grader Gage Terrace. "I’ve grown up in a very political household so I’ve always known a lot about law, but having more information backed up and being in a court is really cool."
1 of 10
— Student Mock Cleveland City Council 07523.jpg
Clara E. Westropp Elementary School sixth grader Bobbi Ray, 11, (center) raises her hand to ask a question during a mock City Council meeting on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Ryan Loew / Ideastream Public Media
2 of 10
— Student Mock Cleveland City Council 07301.jpg
Seventh grade student Myasiah Vanhoose, 13, from Cleveland's Clara E. Westropp Elementary School, bangs the gavel as she presides over a mock Cleveland City Council meeting on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Ryan Loew / Ideastream Public Media
3 of 10
— Student Mock Cleveland City Council 06978.jpg
Cleveland Ward 17 Council Member Charles Slife talks to students from the city's Clara E. Westropp Elementary School before of mock City Council meeting on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Ryan Loew / Ideastream Public Media
4 of 10
— Student Mock Cleveland City Council 07286.jpg
Students from Cleveland's Clara E. Westropp Elementary School participated in a mock City Council meeting on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Ryan Loew / Ideastream Public Media
5 of 10
— Student Mock Cleveland City Council 07162.jpg
Clara E. Westropp Elementary School eighth grader Gage Terrace, 14, reads faux legislation proposing to charge a $5 admission fee to city playgrounds during a mock City Council meeting on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Ryan Loew / Ideastream Public Media
6 of 10
— Student Mock Cleveland City Council 07383.jpg
Clara E. Westropp Elementary School fifth grader Valeria Blacio, 10, (right) listens during a mock Cleveland City Council meeting on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Ryan Loew / Ideastream Public Media
7 of 10
— Student Mock Cleveland City Council 07100.jpg
Clara E. Westropp Elementary School sixth grader Javonni Torres, 12, participates in a mock City Council meeting on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Ryan Loew / Ideastream Public Media
8 of 10
— Student Mock Cleveland City Council 07179.jpg
Clara E. Westropp Elementary School fifth grader Logan Salah, 11, participates in a mock City Council meeting on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Ryan Loew / Ideastream Public Media
9 of 10
— Student Mock Cleveland City Council 07320.jpg
Clara E. Westropp Elementary School fifth grader Alex Behrens, 11, listens to Cleveland's Ward 17 Council Member Charles Slife on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Ryan Loew / Ideastream Public Media
10 of 10
— Student Mock Cleveland City Council 06911.jpg
Seventh grade student Myasiah Vanhoose, 13, from Cleveland's Clara E. Westropp Elementary School, sits in the chair of Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin as she and her classmates participate in a mock City Council meeting on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Ryan Loew / Ideastream Public Media
This is the second school year that Slife, in tandem with Judge Ann Clare Oakar, held such a field trip.
"We have a City Hall and a Justice Center where things are happening that affect kids lives, and I think kids are excited to come and see these beautiful buildings and learn how laws are passed, learn how trials happen, learn what the mayor does," Slife said. "I think it’s just a great opportunity to hopefully get kids eager to maybe get involved in their community and maybe run for City Council one day."
The students started their day at City Hall, where Slife spoke about how the legislative body of the city works, before moving to the Justice Center in the afternoon, where they conducted a trial on a student failing to complete their homework.
"It's great to show them how government works," said Beth Sery, a K-8 English Language Learner teacher chaperoning the trip. "It was very exciting to see some of the students sharing and asking good questions and their interest level was amazing."
Slife said he hopes to get more schools involved in the future.
"In a perfect world, every Cleveland school kid could come here," he said. "I'm excited to have the kids from Clara Westropp here today, and we're trying to expand this as much as we can."