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PRESS RELEASE -- September 12, 2000
Foege to Become Teacher for a Day
Mt. Vernon, Iowa - Representative Ro Foege, D-Mt. Vernon, will take part in a
new initiative to teach students the value of public service in a nationwide
program sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
On September 15, Foege will join as many as 2,000 state legislators from states across the country to participate in the first national America's
Legislators Back to School Day. Success of a pilot project in six states last year that reached more than 4,000 students encouraged the National
Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) to roll out the program to all 50 states this year.
Foege's schedule for America's Legislators Back to School Day includes
teaching assignments at Lisbon Community Schools and Cedar Rapids College Community School. "It's important that students understand how our
representative form of government works," Foege said. "While there are pressures and difficulties in the legislative process, it is a worthwhile and
very rewarding process."
Organizers of the event hope that the classes will not only shed light on how
the legislative process works, but also to teach young people the importance
of public service.
The program is a product of NCSL's recently launched civic education
initiative, the Trust for Representative Democracy. Based on the ideas and fundamental principles set forth by the framers of the Constitution, the
Trust is designed to engage young people and build their understanding and support for America's democratic institutions.
NCSL, a bipartisan nonprofit organization, is composed of the nation's state
legislators and staff. Partners in the America's Legislators Back to School
Day include the Center for Civic Education, the National Education Association, the American Association of Elementary School Administrators,
the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
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