RADNOR, March 16, 2009 – Students from schools throughout the 17th Senatorial District gathered at Cabrini College to learn more about politics and government during Sen. Daylin Leach’s First Annual Good Government Seminar held last Friday.
Leach, D-Delaware/Montgomery, said the day was marked with success.
“I was thrilled with the turnout of our first annual Good Government Seminar,” he said. “It was refreshing to interact with young civic-minded individuals who are truly interested in how state government functions. I enjoyed imparting my knowledge and experiences upon them, and I look forward to seeing what impact those bright students will have on Pennsylvania politics in the future.”
The Good Government Seminar is an educational forum that utilizes a "mock Senate" format to help local high school students better understand the legislative process. The students had the opportunity to consult with administration and community leaders, legislators and government affairs representatives while they debated proposed legislation in their mock committee meetings.
The mock Senate considered bills such as Leach's Death with Dignity Act, the Green Schools Act (Solar Panels on Public Schools) and the Pennsylvania High School Excellence Act (Graduation Competency Assessments). After the “Senators” debated and developed their bills in committee meetings, the mock Senate convened in Cabrini’s auditorium to vote on the new legislation. The floor votes were presided over by that day’s Speaker, state Rep. Kathy Manderino, D-Montgomery/Philadelphia.
This year’s participating schools included the Shipley School, Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, Kennedy Kenrick Catholic High School, Upper Merion High School, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Haverford High School, Roosevelt Alternative School, Archbishop John Carroll High School and the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur.
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