GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Woodward Mill Elementary School fifth graders just learned about the three branches of government in the classroom. On Friday, they impressed county leaders with their knowledge as they visited the Gwinnett County Justice and Administration Center.
"I've learned a lot. These are some of the smartest fifth graders," said Gwinnett County Judge Tadia Whitner. "I'm ready for them to ask some really stunning and probably hard-hitting questions."
Whitner helped organize the special trip, which included conversations with County Commission Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson, Clerk of Courts Tiana Garder, Tax Commissioner Denise Mitchell, the sheriff's department K-9 unit and some of her fellow judges.
"When you get to see it and touch it and feel it and really get to see how it works in action and to see the people that actually do it, that's a great opportunity for them to really learn how our government works and that we're real people, too," Whitner said.
Eleven-year-old Scotta sat in the front row during Love Hendrickson's presentation, listening closely and taking notes.
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"There are a lot of responsibilities you have being in the executive branch," Scotta said. "I want to be an actor, but it does sound like another job I would like to do."
Love Hendrickson said she wouldn't be surprised if Scotta or any of her classmates ended up in charge one day after hearing the questions they were asking.
"We definitely have some local leaders already in the room there asking all the right questions," she said. "It's a lot of the questions that the adults ask us. 'Where do our taxes go?' 'What are you doing with our taxes?"'
They also asked her about homelessness and deforestation.
"My favorite part of this was them asking the questions about their taxes, asking about land use decisions. I mean, these kids really know a lot of information," she said. "They're getting it. And I have to be honest and say that I'm very proud to know that our kids are paying attention to what's happening around them."