America's Legislators Back to School Week
Editor's Note: This article, by Jan Goehring, appeared in the May 2002 issue of NCSL's magazine, State Legislatures. To order copies or to subscribe, contact the marketing department at (303) 830-2200.
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Nevada Senator Still Enjoys Going Back to School
The fourth and fifth graders held their heads a little higher when they heard that they, too, could become lawmakers some day.
"I can be in office for 11 more years, if the voters send me. That means that one of you could take my place when I leave," Nevada Senator Valerie Wiener told them. That helps bring the Legislature to life.
"Being a legislator is more than passing bills; we make decisions for real people," says Wiener. That's one of the reasons she is passionate about talking with students in the classroom. And she doesn't see just a few kids. During America's Legislators Back to School Week last September, she visited 69 classes in 15 schools and spoke with 1,707 students, 94 teachers and 15 principals. She says it was a "wonderful week, and I learned more than the students." Another motivating factor for her visits was redistricting. These students live within her new district boundaries, and the event gave her an opportunity to get to know them.
Wiener urges students to make good life choices and emphasizes the importance of voting and citizenship. She feels it's important to let students know that legislators are real people and to tell them about the legislative process, including how kids can have an effect. She also shares the human side of the job, answering questions like: "Do you ride in a limousine?" and "How much do you get paid?"
The event happened to fall the week after the terrorist attacks last year, and Wiener says that presented a challenge. She didn't want to let the kids down. And she felt they needed help to get past those events.
"You share your leadership at times like that," she says. But reminding them of the strength of democracy and our country certainly helped.
Meeting with students is important, and "I'll continue to do this as long as I am in office," she says.
America's Legislators Back to School Week is a program of NCSL's Trust for Representative Democracy and is scheduled Sept. 16-20 this year. This annual event encourages lawmakers to visit classrooms to talk about what it's like to be a state legislator, answer questions and listen to concerns. For more information about the program, visit www.ncsl.org/public/backsch.htm
©2002, National Conference of State Legislatures. All rights reserved.
posted 6/5/02
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