Source: q13fox.com - Wednesday, February 27, 2019
OLYMPIA, Wash -- The state Capitol in Olympia can be an intimidating and mystifying place for those who don’t follow politics closely. But under that imposing dome is an innovative program for teens that has been quietly making Washington state better for generations. While nearly every state in the U.S. has a legislative page program, only Washington pairs that program with a formal page school program. Whether it’s sitting inside the Supreme Court or talking with the state treasurer or presenting their own legislative ideas, pages are constantly on the move. They run errands, deliver notes and help lawmakers in both the Senate and the House chambers. “This week has been ... Oh my gosh. It's been amazing,” says Senate page Emma Thuau. “You really got to see different points of view, and you get to see how senators deal with that and think in a very open-minded way.” Page Supervisor Seth Coats says that’s the point of the entire program, both politically and personally, for the students. “My favorite part of my job is seeing kids break out of their shell,” says Coats. Teens age 14 to 16 apply for the program each legislative session. They are chosen from public schools, private schools and even home schools. Once selected, they come to Olympia, where they are trained on the job for the duties and dropped into the page school classroom where they find teacher Leo O’Leary. “This is an amazing place to work,” says O’Leary. O’Leary
Source: Breaking News
OLYMPIA, Wash -- The state Capitol in Olympia can be an intimidating and mystifying place for those who don’t follow politics closely. But under that imposing dome is an innovative program for teens that has been quietly making Washington state better for generations. While nearly every state in the U.S. has a legislative page program, only Washington pairs that program with a formal page school program. Whether it’s sitting inside the Supreme Court or talking with the state treasurer or presenting their own legislative ideas, pages are constantly on the move. They run errands, deliver notes and help lawmakers in both the Senate and the House chambers. “This week has been ... Oh my gosh. It's been amazing,” says Senate page Emma Thuau. “You really got to see different points of view, and you get to see how senators deal with that and think in a very open-minded way.” Page Supervisor Seth Coats says that’s the point of the entire program, both politically and personally, for the students. “My favorite part of my job is seeing kids break out of their shell,” says Coats. Teens age 14 to 16 apply for the program each legislative session. They are chosen from public schools, private schools and even home schools. Once selected, they come to Olympia, where they are trained on the job for the duties and dropped into the page school classroom where they find teacher Leo O’Leary. “This is an amazing place to work,” says O’Leary. O’Leary
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Source: Breaking News
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