Huntington Students Visit The White House Experience
November 1, 2023
A group of Huntington High School students recently visited the White House. No, not that White House. The replica on the Long Island University campus in Brookville. Students were able to sit in the Oval Office and Situation Room along with press room and tour the Museum of Democracy.
Teachers Joseph Leavy and Esmeralda Tello brought their Participation in Government classes to LIU to visit “The White House Experience.” It’s said to be one of just four such replicas in the northeast.
Students were able to play roles of National Security Council members with each student assigned a different position, such as attorney general, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, secretary of defense, secretary of homeland security, director of the U.S. immigration and customs enforcement and the president himself as well as other high government officials.
The mock NSC group discussed, debated and deliberated issues related to the migrant crisis at the southern border. They completed the simulation in a re-created White House Situation Room.
The Huntington classes proceeded into the Oval Office, where many had a chance to sit in the place of the president. The student playing the role of the president presented the agreed-on policy to the press in the White House Press Room. Classmates playing the role of press reporters peppered the president with questions about the policy.
The program was capped off with a tour through the Museum of Democracy, where an exhibit titled “Hail to the Chief” was on display. Students were able to see campaign items from presidential races ranging from John Adams to Joe Biden.
“Overall, it was a fun day of learning,” Mr. Leavy said. “Students left with a real sense of what it is like to be in the White House.”
