By Dena Schaeffer
The Dayton Regional
STEM School’s government class is currently working on a unit campaigning for
Ohio bills. Campaigning for bills supported by the students not only teaches
them the process of how bills become law, but also how to get outside
communities involved. Many Ohio senators and representatives have become strong
supporters of our school because of this long-lasting unit.
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The project began with
Matthew’s
Bill in 2014, and started branching out to campaigns
for other Ohio bills in the following years. This year, groups are focusing on
bills regarding public smoking, Matthew’s bill, crosswalk safety, and a few
others. This campaign project has allowed students to reach out to their
communities, providing a stronger reputation for our school. Additionally, it
teaches students the process of a political campaign as well as how a bill
becomes a law. It provides the students real life experience that impacts them
more than just reading from a textbook.
One group, focusing on
Senate Bill 39 (stricter punishment for failure to yield at a crosswalk in a
school zone), has been communicating with Senator Beagle and others in the Ohio Senate to discuss
how to get the public to support the bill.
A junior, Jon Henry,
explains that “This project has allowed us the unique opportunity to
participate and learn more about politics.”
The campaigns created
by the students support real bills that are in the process of becoming laws,
allowing for the junior class to make an impact on the school, as well as the
state of Ohio.
