Teach with TVW, the education resource offered by TVW, yesterday held a second live webcast with students from Wenatchee High School for the pilot project “Capitol Classroom.”
The Wenatchee High students participated in the 30-minute webcast as part of an ongoing class project to follow a bill through the state Legislature. Students study the bill; then participate in the legislative process by monitoring committee meetings, offering testimony, meeting with state legislators and working with their volunteer Olympia lobbyist – all over the web through TVW.
The Wenatchee High School students chose SB 5487, a bill which would establish a certification program for commercial egg laying chicken operations, as the legislation to monitor and endorse.
This week, the students had their second webcast report from Denny Eliason, a professional contract lobbyist volunteering to represent the class at the Capitol. Students also got to ask questions of Sen. , D-Vancouver, sponsor of SB 5021. Sen. Pridemore and Christopherson communicated with the students from TVW’s studios in Olympia.
“I'm thrilled to be working on this project with TVW,” said Patti McMaster, social studies teacher and Department Head at Evergreen High School. “The students are engaged in the project and are eager to help students all over the state learn about how our state government REALLY works. The webcasts give us an opportunity to stay connected with what is happening in Olympia.”
“It’s important for all citizens to understand how the legislative process works so that they can participate effectively,” said Pridemore. “The Capitol Classroom project is teaching these students how to be active life-long citizens by connecting them directly to the process. It’s a great program.”
“The students were really prepared and ask great questions” said Christopherson. “These kids are really engaged in this issue. I’ve really enjoyed working with them.”
A social studies class at Wenatchee High School is also participating in the Capitol Classroom pilot project. For more information on Capitol Classroom and to view portions of webcasts, go to: http://teachwithtvw.org/capitolclassroom.


“Capitol Classroom” is a new education program that lets students participate directly in the legislative process at the State Capitol via TVW video connection. The goal of “Capitol Classroom” is to provide a rich and immersive learning experience by investing students in the legislative process and connecting them directly with professionals in Olympia. “Capitol Classroom” is made possible, in part, by a generous grant from the Charlotte Y. Martin Foundation.

TVW, often called the Washington state version of C-SPAN, provides unedited gavel-to-gavel television coverage of the Washington State Legislature, Supreme Court, executive branch, state boards and commissions, elections, and public policy events of statewide significance. Cable television carries TVW for free, reaching 99% of the cable households in Washington, representing about 55% of the state population. Viewers can also watch TVW programming on demand at tvw.org.