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Office of
Assembly Minority Leader (G) Matt Ahearn
38th District Bergen County 305 Route 17 South, Suite 3205
Paramus, New Jersey 07652 Phone: 201-261-8228 Fax: 201-261-1370
www.mattahearn.com
For Immediate Release: October 8, 2003
Contact:
Assemblyman
Ahearn
Nancy Fingerhood
Phone: 201-261-8228
Fax: 201-261-1370
Matt Ahearn, (G-Fair Lawn)
AHEARN GOES BACK TO SCHOOL
Teaches Students About the Legislative Process
(FORT LEE)-- Kicking off a nationwide "Legislators' Back to
School" program, Assemblyman Matt Ahearn (G-Fair Lawn) visited Fort
Lee High School last week to talk to students about how the legislative
process affects their lives.
"High school seniors play an important part in our democracy,"
said Ahearn (G-Fair Lawn). "Although not all of them are voting
constituents yet, their lives are greatly affected by laws passed in
Trenton and other state capitals."
Ahearn spoke to 40 students in grades 11 and 12 at Fort Lee High
School in Fort Lee as one of thousands of state legislators across the
country who participated in the "Legislators' Back to School"
program.
The
program was conceived to dispel the myths about democracy and legislators.
This program gives students the opportunity to learn how state
legislators have a direct role in solving problems, and it uniquely
allows students to ask elected officials questions face-to-face.
"Going back to school to talk to students is a great way to teach
them about representative democracy," said Ahearn. "Being
in the classroom brings government to a common level and personalizes the
political process."
Ahearn presented the students with a forthright and honest view of the
political system in New Jersey - both the good and the bad. He
stressed the importance of understanding there are different sides to an
issue and compromise is part of the process in Trenton. However, he
also explained the influence of big corporate money in politics at the
state and local levels. The lesson included a screening of a 60
Minutes segment (CBS) from 1996 featuring an undercover review of the
League of Municipalities annual convention in Atlantic City and the
Chamber of Commerce train ride in Washington, DC.
The "Legislators' Back to School" program was sponsored for the
fifth year by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
After the success of a pilot project in six states, NCSL decided to
roll out the program to all 50 states. The program is an initiative
designed to teach young people -- the nation's future voters and leaders
-- what it's like to be a state legislator.
The goal of the program is to energize young people about the legislative
process and civic activism. It gives students an opportunity to
participate in the debate, negotiation, and compromise that are the very
fabric of our representative government.
NCSL -- a nonprofit organization-- is composed of the nation's state
legislators and staff. Partners in the "Legislators' Back To
School" program include: the Center for Civic Education,
the National Education Association, the American Association of School
Administrators, the National
Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Association of
the Secondary School Principals, the National Council for the Social
Studies, the Close Up Foundation, and the Reading Recovery Council of
North America.
More information on the National Conference of State Legislatures can be
found at www.ncsl.org.
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