Students Gain First-hand Experience of State and Tribal Affairs

posted on May 15, 2014

Earlier this month, three Red Cloud students strolled up the tree-lined walkway and into the grand entryway of the State Capitol Building in Pierre, South Dakota. They gazed in awe at the architecture and art that suddenly surrounded them. Though slightly overwhelmed after the 200 mile drive from the reservation, and perhaps a little star-struck as they stood amongst some of the most important lawmakers in the state, the students prepared themselves to experience the process of turning a bill into a law through the state’s mock legislature program.

Dr. Kay Reisdorfer, a Red Cloud volunteer with more than 30 years of experience teaching history and humanities at Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona, helped to organize this unique learning experience as part of her U.S. Government class.

“It’s important for students to see how things function,” says Kay. “While their time at the Capitol was part of a mock legislature they were still really there. They really went out onto the Senate floor and really debated alongside their peers. They were really able to meet the Governor and legislators and see how a real bill might become a law.”

While students learn about government processes in the classroom, Kay believes that hearing from lawmakers directly, touring the halls of the Capitol building and debating the merits of bills they themselves drafted helped to deepen their learning through hands-on experience.

And that is exactly what Demcie ‘15, a junior at Red Cloud, took away from the experience.

“I find that it is easier to understand something you learn in class when you’re actually able to be a part of it,” says Demcie. “Even though we learned about it in class—and I had an idea of the process—once I went through the legislative process for myself, it seemed more simple and more understandable.”

“Experiential learning involves all your senses—sights, sounds, smells—being there allows students to better commit ideas to memory,” says Kay. “By getting students out of their own little spheres, their worlds will expand. Some might call me idealistic, but while we can all agree that the government isn’t perfect, I think it’s very important to know how government works.”

After returning from the trip, Demcie was inspired to continue his learning.

“I really want to learn more about debate now. It was a lot of fun to go back and forth and debate why a bill should be passed or not. It’s a skill I can use just about anywhere, and I now I can see how important it is in government.”

Kay is hoping that more students will be inspired to apply the skills and knowledge they gain at Red Cloud to bettering their communities, whether as an engaged citizen, tribal member or as a future lawmaker.

Kohli ‘15, a junior at Red Cloud, joined 25 of her classmates recently on the second field trip in Kay’s U.S. Government class. This time, students attended an Oglala Sioux Tribe council meeting.

“I’ve always believed that the government that is closest to home was most important,” says Kay. “The Tribal Council was very gracious to us in allowing us to attend and I think students were really able to put an image and idea behind class lectures and readings.”

Kohli was able to meet with Tom Poor Bear, the vice president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. While the class waited for the meeting to begin, students learned the basics of Robert’s Rules of Order—the time-honored and widely-used parliamentary authority used by many governments and assemblies.

“It helped me understand [tribal government] a lot more,” says Kohli. “I would usually  just go with what everyone else was thinking about tribal issues. Now I have a better idea of how it all works, and even some ideas about how it could be improved!”

“For those of us who will stay on the reservation, I think we will have a better idea of how tribal affairs works and will be...able to make a difference.”

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Photos: Capitol Building by Jake DeGroot, Creative Commons Licence
Bottom: All Rights Reserved ©Red Cloud Indian School, 2014