The DVD and lesson plan were crafted by Elon students enrolled in a senior project experience in 2007. This is the third venue where the educational materials have been showcased and distributed to educators to use in their high schools. Last year the Sunshine Center learned that the two textbooks in use in state high schools do not have a section on open government. The center is working to provide teachers and students resources detailing specifically North Carolina’s open government laws.
After the presentation, attendees asked several thoughtful questions.
“I’m not 18 years old,” a student asked. “Does the law only apply to those 18 years and older?”
North Carolina Open Government Coalition Sunshine Center director Connie Book said the law entitles everyone access to public records, no matter age, identity or reason for the record.
“What if you saw your city council members having a conversation about something political in your community at a local restaurant?” one student journalist asked. “Should I say something to them?”
“You could,” Book replied. “While most city councils understand and respect the law, if you felt that the conversation you overheard should be held in a meeting open to the public, absolutely say something. Remember the council is composed of our representatives. In effect they work on our behalf, at our pleasure.”
“What if we obtain a record through the law, publish the record and then are sued by a reader angry over the publication?” one of the advisers asked.
Book said court precedent has found that public records legally obtained and then published, do not carry a liability issue for the newspaper.
More than 50 copies of the open government educational materials were provided to state high schools attending the conference.