The Model Legislature program, which is more than 50 years old, includes 130 students from Winona Senior High, Cotter Senior High and Winona Middle School. These students participate in this program at WSU with Minnesota Rep. Gene Pelowski's Teaching Social Studies in Secondary course.
"This may be the only activity in the nation where grades 6-16 participate in a hands on educational activity," said Pelowski, an instuctor for this course at WSU for the past 15 years and advisor of the program since 1975.
Students elect participants in the program to serve in a model House, Senate and Governor's Office. The students then conduct considerable research on the roles played by the legislative and executive branches of the state government, as well as how to draft mock legislation which they will introduce and attempt to get signed as a law.
President Krueger has supported the Model Legislature in using the new WSU Maxwell Leadership Center from the beginning, said Pelowski, and by making sure needs for the program are met by WSU.
"President Krueger's support has been greatly valued by the students that have participated in the Model Legislature, and his emphasis on giving students a chance to develop their leadership skills is unique, " said Pelowski.
Participants are able to research actual bills that will appear before the Minnesota Legislature in St. Paul during the upcoming legislative session by using the Legislature's Web site, which lists bills that will be introduced this year.
"Rather than reading about it in books, this gives students the chance to actively learn the intricacies and nuances of the legislative process," said Pelowski.
This year's students have researched and drafted 100 bills, which is part of the process Pelowski says prepares the students to not only participate in our democracy but to become its leaders.
"Simply put, this is a great program," said Pelowski. "I have thoroughly enjoyed it over the years and believe it has been a wonderful way to teach students about how their government works."
