Neal brings civic lesson, peek inside politics to Peck School students

Date: 6/20/2012

June 20, 2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

HOLYOKE — Last week, Congressman Richard Neal proved in person that he responds to letters from constituents.

Neal was at the William R. Peck School responding to a group of letters from seventh graders who had studied the issue of making 18 the high school dropout age rather than 16 and had written essays about it. They sent the essays to several elected officials, including Neal.

Holding up a package of the students' essays, Neal said, "When I get letters they don't go to a staff member, they go to my desk."

Although Neal explained to the students that the issue of the dropout age isn't one determined on the federal level, he did stress the importance in staying in school and receiving a high school diploma.

"The difference over the course of a life of having a high school degree and not having a high school degree in terms of earning power is vast," Neal said.

He noted that unemployment is higher for those without a high school degree and that while not everyone needs to go to college, everyone needs to complete high school.

He said there was a time in the Pioneer Valley when having a high school degree was enough to insure a person could get a good job and earn a good living, but over the last 50 years many of those jobs have either migrated to southern states or to other countries.

Education beyond high school is demanded by many jobs today, he added.

"When I look at high school drop-out rates, I'm mortified," Neal said.

Neal, who is no stranger to the classroom as a teacher, gave the students a quick lesson in the life of a member of the House. He told them that the schedule of the House and its activities is variable and that air transportation to and from Western Massachusetts makes his life easier.

He emphasized his pride in serving in the House and said, "I go to work everyday with all kinds of people ... it's very, very humanizing."

Neal faced a variety of questions from the students, one of whom asked how he decided to run for Congress. Neal explained that he was inspired by seeing President John F. Kennedy, who spent the night before the 1960 election in Springfield.

"His election was transforming," Neal said.

Another student asked about President Barack Obama's chances for reelection. Neal believed the president has "a slight advantage." He said he doesn't get involved in emotional arguments.

"I get caught up in the arithmetic. I do reality," he said.

He told the students to watch the states of Nevada, Colorado, Virginia, Florida, New Mexico and Iowa and explained that if Obama can win several of those states, he will be reelected.

He also said that finding out the opinions of suburban independent voters is important to understanding how the presidential contest might go.