State Sen. Rupp Visits Heritage Intermediate

Missouri State Senator Scott Rupp spoke to students at Wednesday about the important functions of state government.

Rupp divided the 168 fourth graders into two groups, one representing the Missouri Senate and the other the Missouri House of Representatives.

Sen. Rupp asked the students for ideas that they thought would make a good law. Not surprisingly, one student suggested that a mandatory six hour recess would make a great law, and quite a few others agreed. One of those in agreement was 10 year old Lauren Schulte, who, when recognized by the President of the Senate, said “Mr. President, we should have six hours of recess because children these days should not sit through boring tests, vocabulary, science and math. Who would want to do that? Really, who?”

The bill passed a voice vote in both the House and Senate, but Governor (and fourth grade teacher) Amanda Brueggeman quickly vetoed the legislation. The veto was overridden in the Senate, but lost by one vote in the House, so there would be no change in recess on this day.

“We’re trying to teach the students what actually happens in the capitol, on a level that they can understand, so they can experience it and not just read about it,” said Sen. Rupp. “There were also some great questions about when a bill becomes law and about the amendment process. I was glad to visit today; it’s another interactive way for kids to learn.”