A class act: America's Legislators Back to School Program has put lawmakers and kids together for a decade.

• Author: Goehring, Jan

Do you ride in a limousine?"

"How often do you get to talk to the president?"

"How much do you get paid?"

Kids sometimes ask the darnedest things when state legislators visit their classrooms.

"I enjoy the questions I get, especially from young students. Legislators should view visits with students as opportunities for a teachable moments, not only for students but for parents and teachers," says Massachusetts Senator Richard Moore.

The America's Legislators Back to School Program, now celebrating its 10th year, has been bringing civics to life through these real-world teachable moments in classrooms all across the country.

Moore initiated the program in Massachusetts in 1999, one of six pilot states. "The program has matured over the years, the classroom materials have improved, and teachers are thrilled that they can keep the resource materials," says Moore.

The Back to School Program began as a one-day event in September, then expanded to a week. It now kicks off the third week of September and runs throughout the school year. More than 1,200 legislators participate each year. Lawmakers have reached more than 2 million students since the program began.

Nevada Senator Valerie Wiener has participated for 10 years and estimates that she has spoken with more than 24,000 students.

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"This program renews me at every level and reminds me why I am in the Legislature," says Weiner.

She remembers going to a school right after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She realized the students were looking to her to tell them what the government was going to do. "I was the face of government for them, and it was important to be there," Wiener says.

Moore visited a school one election year and was unaware that the child of his opponent was in the audience. The next day the opponent complained to the media that Moore was campaigning at the school. The school replied that he does this every year and explains how state government works.

"Students sometimes don't distinguish between levels of government," says Moore. "It's important to bring the state and local government message to the classroom. Those levels of government affect the day-to-day lives of citizens."

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In addition to educating students about the legislature, Wiener often talks with them about health and physical fitness. And she backs up the talk with action, sometimes taking to the stage to do push ups. Wiener competes in the Nevada Senior Olympics, and...