Assemblyman Brian Maienschein, who represents the 77th Assembly District in the California State Assembly, recently visited fourth- and fifth-graders at Ericson Elementary in Mira Mesa to discuss California politics and the legislative process.
Reading about California government in Social Studies class is fun, but learning about it first-hand from your local assemblyman is even better.
The visit began with an introduction from Assemblyman Maienschein that included a brief personal history, followed by a formal presentation about the interworking’s of California government, and ended with a question and answer period.
The students have been studying all levels of California government in their Social Studies classes so they were well prepared. In advance of the visit, they reviewed materials on government, elections and the Assembly. Students posed questions to Assemblyman Maienschein about how ideas become laws, the governor’s role in this process, and even the future of testing for students.
“The students were very excited to meet Assemblyman Maienschein,” said fourth-grade teacher Rhoda Stephens-Yoder, who organized the visit. “He told me he was very impressed at the quality of the questions and how well-informed the students were.”