Program Designed To Teach Teenagers About Legislature

As students move through Idaho schools, their government studies do not concentrate much on the state level.

Two summers ago, the Idaho Legislative Council, a 14-member group of lawmakers, decided to make educating students on the political process a priority.

The result is a three-pronged project, including a video, web site and teacher’s guide, that was launched in schools statewide last week.

“Saved by the Bill” is the video, produced by Idaho Public Television, which uses professional actors and actual lawmakers to follow the path a measure must travel to become a law.

The story tracks a bill, introduced during the 1997 legislative session, which would have required reserved seating for any concert with more than a certain number of fans in attendance.

That essentially outlaws “mosh pits,” the swirling mass of flying elbows and bouncing bodies at some rock concerts.

Two actors play teenagers who find out about the bill and discover how they can be active in state lawmaking decisions.

In addition to the video, sent to every 12th grade classroom in Idaho, the council created a teacher’s guide.

It shows teachers how to create a mock legislature with their students, and includes exercises on how a bill becomes a law, tips on how to become a legislator and suggestions for research projects students can do as the 1998 session heats up.

Public television will also maintain a “Saved by the Bill” web site, located at http://idptv.state.id.us/saved. Students can access information about individual legislators and track measures.