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State Representative Gene Pelowski Jr.
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8637
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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HOUSTON AND ST. CHARLES HIGH SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN MODEL LEGISLATURE
Students from Houston High School and St. Charles High School were sworn-in by Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie last week at this year's annual Model Legislature held in the Tau Center at Winona State University (WSU). Model Legislature has provided students up-close, first-hand experience with the legislative process for over fifty years – the first program of its kind in the nation.
"Model Legislature is a unique opportunity for students to take what they've learned in the classroom, and put it into action," said State Representative Gene Pelowski (DFL –Winona), who has been the advisor to the Model Legislature since 1975. "Rather than just reading about it in books, this interactive learning experience gives students the chance to actively participate in the intricacies of the legislative process. It literally brings these concepts to life for them."
The event gives students who are learning about government and the legislative process in the classroom the opportunity to introduce legislation, pursue their bills through the committee process, engage in floor debates, take crucial votes, and more.
In preparation for this year's Model Legislature, student participants researched and drafted over 120 bills to be introduced and debated by the student legislature. In the past, bills were moved through the mock legislative process by hand – literally cutting and pasting amendments together. But this year, an old dog learned some new tricks with the help of new technology engineered by event organizers. Rep. Pelowski and WSU's information technology services department developed software that allowed students to share and track bills both before, and throughout the process.
"Putting the Model Legislature online really streamlined this year's preparation and process," said Rep. Pelowski. "We were able to save a considerable amount of time, effort, and paper in doing so. It made the whole process a more modern, relevant, and fulfilling experience for all participants."
Students responded well to the new technology, mastering it quickly, and using it to their advantage.
Houston and St. Charles students were joined by participants from Winona Senior High, Cotter Senior High, Winona Middle School, and Bluffview Montessori School. Grades 9-12 were Representatives, Senators, the Governor, and Lt. Governor. Students from Winona Middle School and Bluffview Montessori School served as pages.
Education majors from Winona State University participated in the event as well. In preparation for becoming Social Studies teachers, WSU students in Pelowski's 'Teaching Social Studies in the Secondary' course participated in the event as committee administrators to each of the ten legislative committees, staff to the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate and Governor's Office. They completed journals on the experience in a power point format that will be presented to the class as their final, explaining how teachers and students learned the legislative process from each other.
"Engaging students from middle school, high school, and college in the same learning environment is one of the great and unique things about Model Legislature," said Pelowski. "Everybody comes away learning something new about the legislative process, and their role in our communities as active and engaged citizens."
Rep. Pelowski considers Model Legislature a training ground for Minnesota's future leaders. In thirty-two years of advising the program, he has seen participants go on to work and serve in every level of government – from municipal to federal. He calls this year's event "a great success" and looks forward to next year, when yet more students from the greater-Winona area will again have the opportunity to get up-close and personal with the legislative process.
News Items
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: MINNESOTA STATUTE 12A IMPROVES STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PROCESS AND DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGE - (Posted: 2012-08-24 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI AND SEN. JEREMY MILLER SUPPORT TWO-BRIDGE PROPOSAL - (Posted: 2012-08-23 00:00:00)
- REP. GENE PELOWSKI: STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PACKAGE SHOULD FOLLOW PROCESS OUTLINED IN 12A AND INCLUDE PUBLIC INPUT - (Posted: 2012-08-16 00:00:00)
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