A field trip — to Long Beach

Students at Long Beach High School took a field trip on Oct. 21, but they never crossed a bridge.

Some 30 students in the school’s participation in government class took the annual trip to City Hall and the Long Beach Fire Department headquarters to learn more about the inner workings of their local government.

“We want them to understand how city government operates and how they can get involved in it,” said social studies teacher Ray Adams. He and co-teacher Marjorie Jacobs discussed with students the major issues for citizens of Long Beach. Students formulated questions about aspects of the city important to them, including the recreation center, surf beaches and the skate park. During their visit to City Hall, the students posed these questions to City Manager Charles Theofan. Students in the elective course also learned about the city’s law enforcement and judicial system with an information session with Lt. Bruce Meyer of the Long Beach Police Department and Judge Stanley Smolkin.

Meyer said that many of the officers that make up the city’s police force are LBHS graduates.

“We do have that link and we think that link is a good thing,” he said about the relationship between the school and the department.

The group also met with Assistant Chief Richard Corbett of the Long Beach Fire Department who told students of the other emergency situations the department responds to other than a burning house, whether its to deliver a baby or ocean rescues. Corbett explained that the difference between working with elementary-aged children and speaking to a group of older students is that high school students understand the depth of the importance of emergency services.

“Dealing with the public in a non-emergency situation is always a thrill,” he said about his first experience speaking to high school-aged students.

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