US GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS STUDY TOUR 2010

Over half-term a party of eleven Year 13 students visited Sacramento, the capital of California. Led by Mr Blackburn, US Government & Politics Teacher and Ms Waterhouse, the group stayed with host families and attended one of two of our partner schools, CK McClatchy High School and Folsom High School.

Over the nine days the students lived the life of an American high school student. A big shock for many was attending the first lesson at 7.20 in the morning! They engaged in debates with their American counterparts on the political issues surrounding the mid-term elections on 2nd November.

Highlights of the visit included an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the Californian State Assembly including a visit to the Assembly Speaker’s Office where we were all given a memento of the visit, a yellow rubber duck stamped with the Assembly Seal and the Speaker’s name John Perez. These are apparently prized and are rarely given to visitors.

On Election Day we visited a polling station for an in-depth examination of the American voting system. Students at CK McClatchy were, once again, treated to a talk from Rex Babin the Editorial Cartoonist for the Sacramento Bee Newspaper, a unique opportunity to hear how a nationally recognised political cartoonist chooses his ‘targets’ for his satire.

For most of the group the visit to San Francisco and a chance to ride the famous Cable Cars was the ‘icing on the cake’. “A brilliant experience, the best school trip ever” was the verdict of Zahra and Richard.

Mr Blackburn