State Sen. Scott Alexander of Muncie opened the doors of the Statehouse to a group of local students, acting as Senate pages throughout January and February. A group that includes teens from various educational backgrounds—Delta High School, Freedom Christian Academy, Burris Laboratory School—participants in the Senate Page Program stepped into the political arena, albeit for a day, to intimately learn more about the mechanics of their state government.
During their visit, the students had the opportunity to not only tour the historic building but also to directly observe the legislative process from the Senate floor, bringing the pages face-to-face with the realities of policy-making. The experience is designed to offer a deep dive into the governmental process, one that Sen. Alexander himself highlighted in a statement, saying, "Meeting pages is something I always look forward to during the legislative session." According to the Indiana Senate Republicans official release, he also added, "The Senate Page Program offers Hoosier students a great way to learn about their state government, and I encourage all parents and schools in my district to consider signing up their students for this unique educational experience."
It appears that Andrew Alexander, Jazilyn Braden, Wyatt Dunsmore, Jessa Kirkpatrick, Jacob Rohrer, Jedidiah Rohrer, and Kyle Snapp were among those who seized this particular opportunity. Participation is open to students in grades six through twelve and is organized on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays throughout the legislative session. As an extra facet, groups serve on Wednesdays, ensuring that each day is another chance for more pages to potentially to permanently be inspired by the inner workings of state governance.
"The Senate Page Program offers Hoosier students a great way to learn about their state government," were the words used by Sen. Alexander as reported by the Indiana Senate Republicans. This kind of hands-on educational experience not only provides a practical understanding of legislative proceedings but serves as a stepping stone that might just ignite a lifelong interest in how policy and governance shape our collective realities.
