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First day of Spring! Discovering Democracy IV arrived DC!!

By JOHN EYSTER Wednesday, March 20, 2013 - 10:23 a.m.

First day of Spring! Discovering Democracy IV arrived DC!! I met the DD IV group from Milton HS as they arrived on the VanGalder coach about 10:45 am ET after their LONG OVERNIGHT ride from Milton, WI to Washington, DC. All arrived safe... all wanted a shower...

And then they'll be off to downtown Washington, DC on this first day of spring. It is the FIRST DAY of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival too - BUT NO BLOSSOMS! Due to cool weather, the projection is NOW for blossoms to peak April 3 - 6. Better late than never. The daffodils & tulips are beautiful!

Tonight DD IV will be seeing the beauty of our capital city with the night lighting. Opening ceremony will be at THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL under the leadership of the founder/director of Discovering Democracy, VAL CROFTS. This is one of the most meaningful times as the field study is officially launched.

Tomorrow the DD IV group moves to Capitol Hill with Q&A sessions with Senators Baldwin & Johnson and Representatives Pocan & Ryan and others on Capitol Hill. Some students have been able to schedule individual interviews during the day tomorrow too. Tomorrow night we go to see "Hello Dolly" at Ford's Theatre.

Discovering Democracy IV is off and running! I plan to report from time to time while I am here in DC at the same time as they are observing many of their activities. I really am grateful to VAL CROFTS for inviting me to be here when his DD IV is here. Val teases me that turnabout is fair play - he was my student on WASHINGTON SEMINAR 24 years ago - NOW, this year, I am his "student" on DISCOVERING DEMOCRACY. Very grateful for the learning opportunity.

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.

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