What can ice cream teach us about civics?

LEXINGTON, S.C. — Teachers in Lexington District One encourage their students to put what they learn in the classroom into practice out in the real world. For one Lake Murray Elementary student, that meant advocating for ice cream.

First-Grader Katherine Davis took action after learning an ice cream truck could not come to her neighborhood due to a “no solicitation” policy enacted by the homeowners association. With help from her parents, she researched how to draw up a petition, gather signatures of her neighbors and submit the petition to the HOA board for a vote.

Davis took her petition around the neighborhood, explaining why she wanted to change the policy. After seeing her passion, the board voted unanimously to allow the ice cream truck to visit the neighborhood once a year on the day of Davis’ choosing.

A few days later, neighborhood families gathered together to enjoy fellowship and, of course, ice cream — all thanks to Davis.