Students Get A Civics Lesson From Congresswoman Johnson

By Larissa Lytwyn

Prior to embarking on a more than two-decade-long political career, Representative Nancy Johnson was a stay-at-home mom.

“Anyone, of any background, can pursue public service,” Ms Johnson told a rapt audience of fourth graders during her recent visit to Sandy Hook Elementary School.

During her presentation, Ms Johnson provided a basic snapshot of the structure and function of the legislative process.

Ms Johnson is the Congressional representative of the Fifth District, which includes a number of municipalities including Newtown, Bethel, Danbury, New Britain, and Avon.

“As a member of Congress, I get to represent Connecticut down in Washington, D.C.,” she told the children.

She talked about her job to “represent” her constituents’ interests in all matters of public policy, especially issues like health care and education.

Each student asked Ms Johnson questions they had written in preparation of her arrival.

One student asked her what her viewpoint on the No Child Left Behind Act was.

“The No Child Left Behind Act was a wonderful idea, in concept,” she said. She explained how the legislation stemmed from congress’s growing concern over underachieving students, particularly those in urban environments.

The No Child Left Behind Act introduced tougher academic standards, standards that were mostly realized through an increase in standardized testing.

Schools that continued to produce failing students were identified as failing institutions. These schools administrators were then granted a certain period of time to improve their students’ academic achievement. Students in the failing institution, meanwhile, were given the choice to transfer to another, higher achieving, school. If the failing school continued to do poorly, it could be threatened with a permanent shutdown.

While Ms Johnson said she was strongly supportive of any measure that would increase student achievement, she suggested that the No Child Left Behind Act had to be reformed to better meet both schools’ and students’ needs.

“While legislation like the No Child Left Behind Act can be very effective in urban settings, it has caused some problems with schools that are already doing very well, like the schools in Newtown,” said Ms Johnson.

In its evaluation of Connecticut Mastery Scores for the 2003-04 school year, for example, Newtown’s scores were brought down to a substandard level because the No Child Left Behind Act included the scores of regular students with those identified as having special needs.

“It’s important that we don’t mess with the schools that are already working!” said Ms Johnson.

Another student asked the congresswoman what issue was currently “the most important.”

“Well, I think a lot of issues are very important to address in this state,” said Ms Johnson, “especially education. But one issue that I have really made my platform on is health care.”

Ms Johnson is very involved with trying to lower the cost of Medicare prescriptions for seniors.

In December 2003, President Bush signed a new law creating the first Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Ms Johnson said that seniors could currently save money with a Medicare-approved drug discount card. In January 2006, a new piece of the law, Medicare Part D, takes effect, covering prescriptions like the program currently covers doctors’ visits.

Another student asked Ms Johnson her views on the recent voting day successfully held in Iraq.

“I think it is extraordinary that 60 percent of Iraqis risked their lives to vote,” said Ms Johnson. “The 60 percent turnout rate is very high as it is. But considering the risk makes it even more of an accomplishment.”

Further, she said, “I think [the vote] sends a very clear message to the insurgents that terrorism will not be tolerated.”

The students seemed fascinated as Ms Johnson talked about her meetings with US presidents past and present.

“I have had the luck and good fortune to work under four presidents,” said Ms Johnson. During the Reagan era, she said, a prominent issue was ensuring women’s rights in the work place.

She also said she enjoyed working with presidents George H. Bush, Bill Clinton and, currently, George Walker Bush.

She also shared her impressions attending the President’s recent State of the Union address. “I think it was a very touching, very optimistic speech,” she said.

Toward the end of her appearance, Ms Johnson distributed business cards bearing the national emblem of the bald eagle.

“I understand that the eagle is also your school mascot,” said Ms Johnson, to which several students nodded with enthusiasm.

Ms Johnson explained how the students could access the Connecticut General Assembly website and encouraged the children to talk about her visit with their families.

She also encouraged the students, and their families, to write to her with any questions or concerns they had regarding any number of issues, including education and health policies.

After she left, many students still seemed in awe.

“I like how she cares about people,” said fourth grader Kiersten Lynch. “I liked listening to her talk about the [importance of] health care and education.”

Lauren McMahon found the visit equally inspiring.

“I thought it was really cool that she used to be a stay-at-home mom,” she said. “It shows that you can be anything you want, and you don’t have to start when you are young!”