Congressmember Calls on Falcons to Learn About Politics
On October 6, JHS students were treated to a 30-minute panel with North Carolina fourth congressional district representative Valerie Foushee. Foushee, who’s up for reelection next month in her district that includes Jordan, told students from social studies and English classes to lead and “make this march to a more perfect union.”
Foushee began with an explanation of what Congress is, does, and what her role in it is. Foushee also explained the logistics of how the House of Representatives operates, alongside similar explanations of the U.S. Senate.
Foushee encouraged students to get involved with politics at an early age, “As students and future voters… you are already engaging with these ideas in the right way by asking questions, challenging assumptions, and learning how the system works… understand that the process gives you power.”
The floor then was opened to a student Q&A panel, composed of preselected questions written by eleventh grade AP Government students in Ms. Cornelio’s class.
In her answers to the questions, Foushee encouraged the students to keep pushing forward and fighting for what they believe in, no matter the obstacle, “What I will tell you is that because you’re criticized, does not mean you’re always wrong, does not mean that you stop participating… Just make sure that if you… have a desire and you believe you can contribute, then I say move forward.”
Junior Eden Santo-Kilgore found it to be an “amazing experience” and was “glad to see a member of Congress interested in high school education and civics.”
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