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TODAY is departure day for the 4th annual Discovering Democracy field study.

TODAY is departure day for the 4th annual Discovering Democracy field study.

VAL CROFTS, Founder/Director of Discovering Democracy, has 42 students with 5 staffers ready to leave on the overnight bus trip to Washington, DC after school today. PRAYING for you all safe, satisfying and meaningful field study week!

This annual field study which, like WASHINGTON SEMINAR in Janesville, focuses on student research on significant public policy issues, will have Question & Answer (Q&A) meetings with Senators BALDWIN & JOHNSON as well as Representatives POCAN & RYAN on Capitol Hill Thursday (3/21). Each student will conduct interviews with other members and staff on Capitol Hill and in the executive branch as well as special interest groups.

I was THRILLED when Val Crofts, my former student and an alumnus of WS ’89 (that’s 24 years ago already), invited me to experience his DD IV on field study this year. I am traveling to DC today too.

I plan to report regularly about DD IV’s field study on my WE THE PEOPLE blog. I invited you to follow the reports and post your comments using this link, “We the People.”

VAL has enriched the DD field study with culture experiences, including: Thursday night, “Hello, Dolly!” at Ford’s Theatre – the place where US President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on Good Friday (April 14)1865; Friday, tour with formal dinner at Mount Vernon – the home of US President George Washington and Saturday evening, “The Capitol Steps” political satire group – the group will meet with the troupe after the show.

After a visit with VAL CROFTS’ interpretative tour at the historic site of the “Battle of Antietam” (fought on Wednesday, September 17, 1862, the first major battle of the Civil War fought on Union soil – it was the bloodiest battle in American history with 22, 717 dead, wounded and missing on both sides combined, DD VI will continue their long bus trip home to Milton, WI.

I know how very satisfying and fulfilling a field study experience in our nation’s capital can be and anticipate that this field study experience for the DD IV students with their staff as well as for me will be a real inspiration and source of commitment for our FUTURE. I know that such a field study experience results in citizens who are MORE informed, involved with commitment and resolved to build a BETTER future.

If you want to read the article published in last week’s Milton Courier, you can use this link, “Students heading to nation’s capital.”

Here we go…

Mr. E.

John Eyster lives in the Edgerton area. He is an adjunct professor of political science at UW-Waukesha and an advocate for democracy/civics education in Wisconsin high schools. John is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of the The Gazette staff or management.