Governor visits LHS and interacts with students
In what was expected to be a photo opportunity to announce funds for summer jobs turned spontaneously engaging as Governor Deval Patrick left the stage and ventured into the audience to answer random questions from Lowell High School seniors. After making his points about the need for more jobs for kids and his commitment to helping with that—which included telling students to take out their cell phones and record this number (866-968-8461), he politely answered selected-in-advance student questions read by Senior Class President Natalie Petit. Once he finished answering those questions, however, he surprised everyone by jumping off the stage and moving through the audience, taking questions from randomly selected students on a variety of topics.
Issues raised by the students included dropout rates, gas prices, cost of living in Mass., income gap and middle-class squeeze, environment, gay marriage rights, violence in the streets, lack of scholarships, and the economy. Other questions included asking the Governor for a date to the prom (he replied he’s married), if he can dance (he said yes but that he wouldn’t demonstrate), and what it was like being the first African-American governor of Massachusetts (“way cool”). In his remarks, the Governor restated some messages that had been key to his campaign–that is: We must try new things and see our stake in each other’s success.” He spoke of revitalizing a sense of community, the idea of service and connection with our neighbors. For me, I couldn’t have been prouder of our students, who represented LHS and the city with respect, humor and intelligence, and our Governor. For a summary of his responses to some of their questions, check:
Decrease Dropouts: He’s not against raising the age to 18 years before you can quit school, but the solution is to make school more engaging to kids by supporting teachers and having high quality, motivated adults working with youth to keep them interested. He also wants schools to have the tools and use the latest in effective strategies for teaching math, science and engineering, which is where the jobs are.
Gay Marriage: Supports the Supreme Court decision that all people come before their government as equals.
High Cost of Living: As governor can’t impact the cost of food and gas, but can help with providing affordable housing options. Best way to address high cost of living in the state is to help prepare people for higher paying salaries through job training opportunities, best education system, and consistently excellent public schools.
Reduce Violence in the Streets: Excellent schools, job opportunities, after-school programs are all factors in what should be a combination of prevention and enforcement strategies. We must increase opportunities for youth and rebuild our sense of community.
Economic Stimulus: The clean energy sector is the l0th largest and fastest growing in Mass. The state’s economy has been adding jobs each month while other states are losing jobs. Generate more revenue for cities through the telecommunications tax. Invest in state infrastructure—working with legislature to invest $16 billion in roads, universities, parks—largest investment in Mass. public infrastructure in 20 years. Also part of the strategy to stimulate the state’s economy are the life sciences and energy bill initiatives.
On Being Black and Government in General: It is “way cool” being first African-American governor, but “my ambition is to be the best governor. People want their government to succeed.” Patrick noted that the state government is working together as many of these major initiatives indicate, but that you might not know it by reading the papers.