About 40 high school students from Lake Orion Baptist School participated in a mock legislature program on Thursday and Friday last week.
The program was through Lansing-based Student Statesmanship Institute (SSI), was under the leadership of James Muffett, who ran the program.
SSI’s onsite program is an educational course where high school students experience leadership and critical thinking while learning about civics, especially with regard to becoming an active participant. Leadership qualities acquired through this program stay with the students for a lifetime.
SSI featured a true-to-life mock legislature (using actual bills from previous legislative sessions), during which students role-played members of the State House, debating both sides of the issues being considered. Students participated in committee hearings, chaired by members of the Orion Township Board of Trustees: Chris Barnett, Orion Township Supervisor; Penny Shults, Orion Township Clerk, and Mark Thurber, Orion Township Treasurer.
Students heard testimony from VIP lobbyists, including State Representative Kevin Daley (R-Lapeer). 26th District State Senator Dave Robertson (R) spoke to the students during the Onsite program giving students a first-hand perspective of campaigning and the legislative process.
The capstone of the Onsite program occurred on Friday evening when students assembled as a legislative body to debate and cast their votes, complete with observers in the gallery.
This year’s SSI mock legislative event represents an eagerly anticipated highlight of the educational year for the students at Lake Orion Baptist School. Students actively learn as they participate in the legislative process, and they experience the significance of making laws and influencing government themselves.
The SSI onsite includes dynamic classroom sessions on Christian worldview, leadership, debate and communications to complement the hands-on experiences of the mock legislature. SSI also runs week-long summer programs. Visit SSI on the web at www.ssionline.org.