They were sworn in, created a bill to address a major policy issue facing the nation, interviewed witnesses, discussed provisions, added amendments and voted in the Senate chamber.
School field trips sure have come a long way!
Recently, 168 Tenney Grammer School eighth-graders got a taste of life as United States senators, courtesy of a visit to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate on the UMass Boston campus.
Through role-play and a simulated Senate session, students were immersed “in learning about the legislative process, key legislative issues, and the skills necessary for effective law-making and sustainable civics life – civic dialogue and negotiating differences by identifying common interests,” according to a description of the program. “The SIM (Senate Immersion Model) provides structured opportunities for students to learn about and discuss real legislative proposals from the perspectives of their senator roles. They are encouraged to reach across the aisle and work with other senators to identify mutual interests that will benefit their constituents.”
The trip, organized by eighth-grade civics teachers Doug Patten and Sarah Calla, offered students a hands-on look at how laws are proposed, debated and negotiated at the federal level.
“It was a wonderful opportunity for our eighth-graders,” they shared. “The EMK Institute created a space where students could learn by doing, and they rose to the challenge.”
Following along on their tablets are Tenney students (foreground) Alyssa Regina Beverly Kristen Theodore and (back) Alisha Dodin. Courtesy photos
