Ryan Dvorak for State Representative

Visit to Swanson Highlands School

November 9th, 2005

Every year, the National Conference of State Legislators sponsors the “America’s Legislators Back to School Program.” In an effort to help educate our students on civics and Indiana government, I participate in the program by visiting fourth-grade classrooms in my district. Indiana fourth-graders spend the year learning about Indiana history and government, so it is a good time to talk with them.

I recently visited Swanson Highlands Elementary School to talk with several classes about my job as a legislator, and how a bill becomes a law in Indiana.

On this visit, I divided the group into a “House of Representatives” and a “Senate,” and let them pick a bill to move through the process. They decided on legislation requiring mandatory recess for all grade levels.

After several amendments in both chambers, and a divisive conference committee on whether recess should be mandatory for high school (or even college), the bill died in a close vote on the conference committee report in the Senate. There was a strong Senate faction that felt the whole issue was just “stupid.”

The State Legislature operates an active outreach program for students – offering tours for school groups, and an active page program. If you know of a school group that might be visiting the Capitol, or have a child who would like to serve as a page, please feel free to let me know.

Entry Filed under: Education, Community