Wakefield Students Are Senators For A Day At Kennedy Institute

A release from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute:

BOSTON – The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate hosted almost 80
sophomores from Wakefield High School on Tuesday for a hands-on, instructive program on the workings of the Senate. Using interactive tablets provided by the Institute, students took on the role of U.S. senators and worked together to consider a bill that would reauthorize the USA PATRIOT Act.

The Senate Immersion Module program offers schools a comprehensive and interactive
opportunity for students to engage in the legislative process. Students step into the role of a U.S.
Senator in the Institute’s full-scale replica Senate Chamber to build and pass a piece of legislation
on issues ranging from health care to immigration reform. Through conducting hearings,
committee mark-ups, and floor debates, the student senators work with their colleagues to
negotiate and debate on behalf of their constituents in a process that culminates in a final vote on
the legislation. The particular bill that the students addressed during their visit was renewal of the
USA PATRIOT Act. It would extend the anti-terrorism legislation passed in the aftermath of the
9/11 terror attacks, particularly the sweeping security measures that were part of the bill.

“We were pleased to take all of the students from Wakefield Memorial High School to the Edward
M. Kennedy Institute for the second year in a row as part of the United States History I
curriculum,” said Robert Rozzi, Wakefield High School’s social studies department
coordinator organizing the visit. “As a special part of what took place today, we had a
representative of Wakefield – Mr. Donald Wong – with us, who addressed the students about
civic action and his political roots. This was a great opportunity for the school, for our students,
and we’re just lucky to be part of it.”

State Representative Donald Wong (R-9th Essex) joined the Wakefield student-senators for part
of their visit and spoke with them about the importance of civic education and engagement.

“It was a great opportunity to talk to the youth of Wakefield because you never know what will
inspire someone to get into politics. Hopefully, they’ll go into politics for the right reason: for their community, Massachusetts, and maybe the nation,” said Representative Wong. “We don’t know how far one student will go. All they need is the one inspiration that will take them there.”

The Senate Immersion Module includes pre- and post-lesson materials that meet literacy
standards and Massachusetts students are able to visit the Institute at no cost to their schools.
Last year alone, the Institute welcomed more than 22,000 students from across the
Commonwealth, the nation, and even the world to take part in the programs.

“The Institute’s unique selection of educational programs get students engaged in a conversation
about how our government works and, further, why civic engagement is a responsibility none of
us can take for granted,” said Institute president Mary K. Grant, Ph.D. “The Senate Immersion
Module program offers an exciting, immersive approach to civic education that provides the next
generation of leaders with a deeper understanding of our legislative process and the important role they can play while making a difference within their own communities. We were delighted to have the students, teachers, and Representative Wong with us.”

Upon completing the program, the Wakefield student-senators renewed the national security
legislation with a vote of 47-27.