By: Drew Kiesendahl
Two Fridays ago, on October 25th, eleven students from Wallenpaupack Area High School had the opportunity to take part in the 2nd annual ‘Senator for a Day’ simulation. This workshop occurs each year at Northampton Community College, and it gives students from around our district a real-life simulation as a Pennsylvania state senator in the legislative branch.
With more than 180 high school students across 10 schools, 20 teachers, 15 official legislative/state workers, and Senator Rosemary Brown herself, the day began with a group meeting where everyone was told what ‘Committee’ they were on. There were five different committees including: Communications and Technology, Education, Health and Human Services, Law and Justice, and Transportation. Each student was placed onto a committee, making it around 35 people per committee. Once the students were divided into the committees, the ‘Senators’ were given two mock bills pertaining to their committee. From there, the students worked together and decided whether to pass, deny, or make amendments to these bills.
After a couple of hours of consulting, everyone met back in the Pocono Hall for the General Session. At this session Senator Rosemary Brown went over each of the 10 mock bills that were proposed, and two students from each bill were to explain to the senator what they came up with. At the end of each bill everybody voted on whether they wanted to pass the bill or not. This opportunity provided by Northampton Community College and Senator Rosemary Brown is very unique and helpful especially to those looking to get into legislative politics.
