Local students learn the role of Congress by drafting bills in mock legislative session - East Idaho News

IDAHO FALLS — The senior at Compass College High School in Falls, Idaho learned deeply about how Congress has worked in the past few weeks when the director of the school allowed them to draft a bill for the school, which could become the "law" of Compass.

Classroom host Arik Durfee told EastIdahoNews.com that the project provides many opportunities for students to-just grow up to the age to vote-in presidential elections, impeachment hearings, and the Capitol The riots and the inauguration of President Biden.

"I always tell students,'We will not brainwash you politically, but I will completely brainwash you to make you an open-minded civilian. I am completely open to this." Du Fei said.

The "Gov-lish" course is a course that includes government and English content. It starts the project by having students draft a bill to make certain changes in the school. Some of the bills students came up with included adding a foosball or air hockey table when the table had a long extension cord, and replacing a carpeted floor where water would normally be sprinkled.

Now, every student has the opportunity to debate the bill in the committee, similar to what is done in Congress. Those who passed the committee were promoted to the House of Representatives-students on Monday/Wednesday, and the Senate-students on Tuesday/Thursday.

The two-layer banknotes fell on the president's desk, which was played by the high school principal Shelley Smede. She has the right to sign or reject bills.

"The mock Congress is one of my favorite projects because the students have the same conversations about the compass program among adults," Smed said. "The bills passed have a lot of power, and I am always happy to review and pass them."

The project continues this week, and Smede is still determining the outcome of the student bill.

Some of the bills she has approved in the past include allowing murals to be painted in schools and specifying how parking spaces should be adjusted for students. She said that bills that advocate wasting time or reducing the cost of education provided by Compass do not usually appear on her desk.

Olivia Harris, a student serving as the interim president of the Senate, said the project did help her understand the content. She sits at the end of the classroom, and students need time to speak and gesture, just like they did in Washington.

She said: "It actually taught me the way of working (Congress), and it is easier to understand because I can participate in it and personally understand how it works." "I personally believe in research, searching and seeing. And more confidence in who you will vote for."

Maria Aquino, a senior student at Compass Academy, said that despite the current political climate in Washington, she was impressed by the way students learn and deal with the situation.

"Many students respect me very much," Maria explained. "Knowing how things work, not just knowing who is angry at whom is happy."

The English of this course focuses on persuasive speech. Ask students to write a speech about one bill and make some impromptu speeches for other bills.

"I am very proud of the work they have done," said Holly Dasher, the classroom coordinator. "They really like the fact that they have the opportunity to change things."

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