Other than standing for the national anthem at a sports event, there’s not a lot of opportunities for experiencing pomp and circumstance here in the great state of Maine. So, when an 8-year-old gets a chance to be introduced and escorted down an aisle by the sergeant-at-arms (who?), it’s kind of like meeting the Queen.
The Honorary Paging Program is a program the State House offers to third-graders and up to join in on the day-to-day legislative process.
“Under the supervision of the Sergeant-At-Arms and Chamber Staff, Honorary Pages have the opportunity to see what it’s like to be part of a Legislative Session. Pages perform duties such as distributing Amendments and Supplements in the Chambers,” according to the State House website.
Qualifications: They need to know their numbers.
Numbers because that’s how the Legislature is organized: Each representative has a number electronically connected to their seat.
Pages, working with the legislative staff, run important paperwork up and down the aisles to the appropriate lawmaker using the numbers as a map.
If it’s a slow law day, they might run notes from one lawmaker to another, keeping these young volunteers busy. Folded-up notes, I assume, that say things like “I heart Democrats” and “Republicans Rock.” “Let’s do lunch, dude!”
When my daughter was 8, I signed her and one of her friends up to be a page for a day.
Pages receive a short training – you have never seen such concentration – from the very official officials who instruct them in a very official way to do very official tasks. After their training and after the session is called to order, they are introduced to the entire body of lawmakers. Waves of sentimental pride sweep the hall.
Kids love protocol, tradition and rules and there’s a long list of delicious rules that go along with being a page:
About Fashion: “We ask that Honorary Pages be neatly and appropriately dressed. (No jeans, shorts, flip flops, hats, hooded sweatshirts, T-shirts with screen printed images or messages. Skirts should be of a modest fashion and must extend to the top of the knee).” This skirt thing, alone, is worth hours of debate and of course a new skirt.
About Food: “No eating, drinking or chewing gum.”
If there is any groaning about this rule, you just have to promise a trip to the State House cafeteria where they can observe adults standing in line for food.
About Recognition: “Before Session begins the Honorary Pages receive name badges.”
A name tag for an 8-year-old is like getting a super power.
About Fame: “Before and after Session, and during recesses, Pages are welcome to go up to the podium where the Senate President presides over the Session to take pictures and try their hand at banging the gavel.”
Give a child a gavel and they will follow you anywhere.
About discipline: “No running in the Chamber. While serving in the Chamber, Pages will be given directions from the Sergeant-At-Arms and his staff. If the staff determines that their presence in the Chamber becomes a distraction, they will be asked to leave.”
Best when someone else is the bad guy.
The 127th Maine Legislature is now in session. Take your kids to our State House. It’s a handsome granite building on a hill with a new shiny copper dome. Go inside to see the giant windows and the famous Rotunda. Walk out onto the stately balconies that overlook the grounds.
Help our elected leaders be accountable for their opinions and actions by showing up and participating in our government. Keep them courteous by offering witnesses in the form of very attentive children.
Jolene McGowan lives and works in Portland with her husband, daughter and dog and has no plans to leave, ever. She can be contacted at:
respondtoportcitypost@gmail.com
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