Last week, the halls of Indiana's Statehouse were filled with the voices and curiosity of young students from Batesville Intermediate School. Representing the future of Senate District 42, these fourth graders were given a tour of where the legislative magic happens, shepherded by their own State Sen. Jean Leising.
The Oldenburg Republican took the opportunity to educate the kids on the journey a bill takes before it becomes a law, surely echoing sentiments of Schoolhouse Rock's classic "I'm Just a Bill" but with a real-world twist. In the exchange, Sen. Leising described her role in this finely tuned process, according to a recent press release by the Indiana Senate Republicans. Politics isn't just for the suits in the state capital—it's a tale rooted deep in the heart of Hoosier classrooms.
The students, likely buzzing from the grandeur of the Statehouse, might not yet grasp the full weight of the civics lesson they encountered. But contact between young minds and elected officials is an investment in civic engagement, a seed planted for the years to come when those very students could be crafting the policies of their state.
Sen. Leising represents Senate District 42, a span that covers Decatur, Fayette, Ripley, and Rush counties, along with parts of Franklin, Jennings and Shelby counties. The importance of engaging with the young constituency in these regions can't be understated—afterall, it's a way to ensure that democracy's torch is passed on to hands that will shape Indiana's future. For a high-resolution photo of the meeting, the press release provides a link for downloading.
