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WWW.IDAHOFALLSMAGAZINE.COM 39 CULTURE & HISTORY *Actual Patient | Morgin Miller 4823-15BinghamMemorialHospital13v.indd 1 4823-15BinghamMemorialHospital13v.indd 1 5/31/23 3:27 PM 5/31/23 3:27 PM get laws changed, we needed to reach out to lawmakers." Each student wrote a persua- sive essay and drew pictures explaining why the state should consider adopting a state dinosaur, and off they went to the state officials. e class received a positive response, and one member of the Idaho state senate, Kevin Cook, brought to the class a 4 foot dra of the bill for the students that he would present when the legisla- tive session began again the following year. "I had my new class of students write their per- sua- sive essays to educate and urge the lawmakers to sup- port the bill Kevin was going to present," Joel said. "I tell you, kid power is good stuff." e powerful movement drew in other classes full of students who were just as determined to get the law passed. "We had quite a few people working on this with us," Joel said. When it came time to testify at the senate commit- tee, Joel and his students virtually attended, four of his students testifying. "It passed the senate, no sweat." "ey repeatedly mentioned how impressed they were that kids would be testifying, lobbying and courageously speaking," Joel said. With the bill on its way to the House committee, the movement needed more students to testify. On a Monday morn- ing at 7:30 a.m. over spring break, a few of his stu- dents testified along with students from Boise and Edgemont. "e movement had gotten even bigger," he said. "And in short, the house voted almost unanimously." On March 31, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed the bill into place, officially adopting the Oryctodromeus as a state symbol. "I didn't start this thinking, 'Oh, I think this will work'," Joel said. "I decided whether it works or not, it's fun and educational for the kids to be involved in a civic pro- cess that's real." Despite his original doubts, the power of his and other courageous students created a movement that will forever be remem- bered in the state of Idaho. IF