State Sen. Zirkin Visits Alma Mater Wellwood Elementary

Apple juice, water, Coke, Gatorade and 7-Up.

Those were some of Wellwood International Elementary School students' responses when their guest, state Sen. Bobby Zirkin, asked if they know the official state drink.

Milk is the correct answer, Zirkin told the students during an assembly Wednesday at his alma mater.

Zirkin, a Pikesville attorney who represents the state's 11th District, graduated from in the early 1980s.

"You guys are fabulous. And it's an honor to be back here at my alma mater," he told students during the assembly of fifth-graders.

Zirkin led students in a mock legislative session in which the students acted as legislators, voting on several issues.

One issue was whether students in Maryland's public schools should be allowed to carry cell phones or other telecommunications devices—including iPhones or iPads—with them in and during school.

Currently, carrying and using those gadgets while in school is against school system policy.

The majority of students voted in favor of allowing cell phones in school, although not all expressed support for the measure.

One student suggested there are privacy issues, including the dangers of giving out your phone number. And who would pay if you were to lose the phone at school?

Some students who spoke in favor of the bill said they'd like to have a cell phone in case there's an emergency in school.

Principal Tricia Rueter spoke out against the bill, noting that students are always supervised by an adult who will handle an emergency.

And, so that no student is at a disadvantage, public schools can't allow only some students to have access to things that others don't have, she said.

"It's equal access for all," she said. "Therefore, until we as the school can supply a handheld device, or a computer, an iPad to every student, we don't need those in school."

Drive to learn

Students were tough against a mock bill that would raise the legal age of getting any drivers license to age 18.

That bill also called for eliminating the current graduated licensing system that allows teens to get behind the wheel at age 15 years, 9 months—with a learner's permit.

One student argued that students need the practice allowed under the current system.

The majority voted against a mock bill that would require school uniforms.

Symbolic gesture

At the end of the assembly, Zirkin delivered more interesting facts about official Maryland symbols:

• The state flower is the black-eyed Susan
• Students quickly guessed the state bird: the oriole
• The state dinosaur is Astrodon johnstoni

He then gave them a clue to the official state sport: "There is a horse involved," he said. Students laughed when they heard the answer: "Jousting."

Pikesville resident Steve Lesser also attended the event.

"I thought he handled it great," he said of Zirkin. "He gave them a little glimpse of government and got them involved, and heard their opinions on a few things that will affect them some day."