Tres Pinos
– Rarely does a school civics lesson end with students coming
face-to-face with the governor.
Tres Pinos – Rarely does a school civics lesson end with students coming face-to-face with the governor.
But for eighth-graders at Tres Pinos School, a visit to the state Capitol this week as a part of a lesson on history and government had a surprise ending when they met and shook the hand of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“I was really excited that I got to talk to the governor,” Michelle Vargas said.
Most of her classmates agreed that the event was thrilling, adding that the governor wasn’t as nearly tall as he seemed in his movies and that he wore a lot of makeup.
Sharon Johnston’s class went to Sacramento as a part of “government in action” lesson, where they get to see firsthand what they had previously only read in books or discussed in class.
During the trip, the students participated in their own debate of the bill moving California’s 2008 presidential primary from June to February. They visited the Senate floor and also met with Assemblywoman Anna Caballero.
“When we first starting learning about government, I thought it was really boring,” Nicole Rianda said. “But it was cool to … actually see the Senate floor and see different people’s perspectives.”
Their meeting with the governor came as a surprise after Rick Rivas, legislative aide to Caballero and a Hollister resident, asked the governor’s office if he might be available for a visit.
“I wanted to be able to help out kids from my community,” Rivas said. “I was happy that Hollister was well represented.”
The students got to watch Schwarzenegger sign the presidential primary bill.
“He spoke with us in a group after he’d signed the bill. I mentioned that we’d just completed a debate on that bill,” Johnston said.
While the students were excited about the trip, few of them were convinced to pursue a career in politics, even after meeting their legislator and the governor.
“It looks like you’d have to work really, really hard to get into those jobs,” Dustin Rovella said.
But the students agreed it had been a great honor, and definitely something to brag about to their parents and schoolmates.
“They had a really unique chance,” Johnston said. “Hopefully they’ll remember this the rest of their lives.”
Alice Joy covers education for the Free Lance. You can reach her at (831) 637-5566 ext. 336 or at
aj**@fr***********.com
.
