AP Government students took a trip to Topeka on March 12 to visit the Kansas Capitol and Supreme Court. Students were able to tour the buildings, speak with officials, and watch house and senate hearings to learn more about the workings and practices of governmental procedures.

“You’re seeing the three branches in action. You’re going to see the legislators as they make laws, as the committee process goes through, you’re going to see the governor there, and the bills either getting passed or not passed,” Government teacher Tonya Howard said.

“I think the tour was very interactive,” James Elledge (12) said. “Learning about the history, statues, and how we select our officials and judges was very interesting.”

Students on this trip were able to speak with Rep. Sandy Pickert, the Kansas House member for the district that includes much of the Southeast boundary area. Pickert has previously visited our government classes to speak with students and inform them on their interests and concerns.

This year Howard had more challenges than before to gather the sufficient funding for this trip. Previously, Southeast has usually been able to receive federal grant money to pay for the experience, but unfortunately this year the History department wasn’t able to receive any.

“It’s competitive, and I’ll try again next year,” Ms. Howard said.

Although they weren’t able to receive grants, Howard reached out to Pickert to gather information on potential resources. Legacy Bank donated $1,000, and the remaining funds were paid for graciously by Starbuffs.

“Let’s thank all those kids who work in Starbuffs, because they helped fund it too,” Howard said.

The main significance of this trip is for students to see first-hand the three state government branches working together, and visually seeing the processes and meanings behind it all.

“This is something that we aren’t disconnected from,” Elledge said. “This is something that affects us, and it’s important for students to see the significance of it. It mentally clicked the actual importance of local and state government, and that voting does matter.

“It makes it real life,” Howard said. “It isn’t just reading about it from the textbook, you get a chance to go see it, experience and learn it that way. “