There’s an old Schoolhouse Rock jingle that explains in about three minutes how a lonely bill on Capitol Hill hopes to become a law someday. Catchy tune, and it taught something.
For young Minnesotans, a week with the Summer Student Senate is a chance to experience that jingle play out for real.
Led by longtime civics teacher Dave Racer, the Summer Senate is a student-led legislative simulation. Participants research legislation, introduce bills, sit through pro-and-con witness testimony from subject-matter experts, offer amendments, and pass or defeat bills as they move through the process. Students learn the nuts-and-bolts of lawmaking by doing it themselves. The fast-paced week wraps with an end-of-session bill-signing (and vetoing) ceremony.
“Student Senate has a track record now of over 20 years of success training young people to be tomorrow’s leaders,” says Racer. “I don’t think there’s ever been a time in our nation’s history where leadership is so lacking. And our students are not being exposed to the ideas that will help them become successful in life.”
This summer’s session ran July 6-10, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Participation is capped at 28 individuals. Student Senate alumni, former students of Racer’s, and any interested high schooler or college student are welcome to apply.
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This summer, I was asked to testify before the “Senators” on Minnesota’s K-12 social studies standards, which take full effect in public schools this fall. It gave me a chance to see, from the other side of the podium, exactly the kind of engagement Racer talks about. The senators listened, took notes, and asked good follow-up questions.
My ask at the end of my testimony wasn’t that they agree with me. It was simpler: Read the actual standards and decide for themselves whether what will soon be taught to Minnesota’s kids builds citizens who can think critically and disagree well — or something else.
Thank you, Mr. Racer, for giving our young people this opportunity and for allowing me to be a part of it!
