U.S. Rep. Gary Peters Visits Berkley High School

Students peppered U.S. Rep. Gary Peters with questions on a wide range of topics – including the future of manufacturing in the United States, the Occupy protest movement and K-12 education – Monday during a town hall-style discussion at .

Teachers Ira Goldberg and Gordon Petrous said they hosted the event as a way to bring to life the lessons they've taught in their four Advanced Placement government classes and to inspire students to become more engaged as citizens.

"There are only 535 members of Congress," Goldberg said Tuesday. "In a nation of over 300 million people, to have one of them take the time from their schedule to come listen to the concerns of the students – it's empowering.

"I hope that they take away that it's their responsibility to be active and involved citizens," he said. "They are able to put a face to Congress, a face to government. It's not just something they hear about on the Jon Stewart show."

Hot topics

The students made the most of their opportunity to have a dialogue with Peters, a Democrat who represents Berkley in Congress, with a number of thoughtful questions submitted in advance to Goldberg and Petrous.

Here is sampling of what students asked and highlights from Peters' responses:

Logan Jabouri: "Mr. Peters, Some people think, manufacturing jobs can come back to America with the right political leader. But other people think that the economy makes it too hard for manufacturing workers to compete. What do you think it will take to bring America's manufacturing jobs back to the United States?"

Peters: "That's a very important question for us here in Michigan. ... I'm a believer that we can bring those jobs back. You just have to have a focused manufacturing policy." ... In the auto industry, that includes financing reform and encouraging retooling to make plants more energy efficient, Peters said. However, he added, "we've got to diversify, not just make cars."

Ayumi Perez: "Do you support or oppose the protests in New York on Wall Street?"

Peters: "I support all protests. That's about American democracy getting out there." The congressman added he has "real concern" about the nation's middle class falling behind, with the United States having one of the largest income disparities among all industrialized nations. During the past 30 years, Peters said, the cost of college, health care and energy have increased as incomes have remained flat. "The frustrations that are being expressed by Occupy Wall Street are widely felt," he said. "I think what they're tapping into is a very real concern." He said there are parallels between the Occupy movement and the Tea Party, with a key difference being where the frustration is being directed – toward the government or Wall Street. "It all underlines the angst that's out there about the economy," he said. "Hopefully it does manifest itself in the election next year. ... I think folks will have a very clear choice."

Alex Rawlik: "Mr. Peters, this nation spends an average $130,000 per student K-12. That number is $40,000 more than what the average nation spends, yet we rank behind other nations in math and science at 25 and 21st respectively. Can you cite specific examples of legislation that you proposed or have supported that has increased the quality and efficiency of our education?"

Peters: "(Head Start) is a program I'll fight agressively for," said Peters, who added that he has served on the Committee of Science, Space and Technology and supported the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act. The act emphasized the value of investment in science and technology education and encouraged citizens to pursue careers as science and technology teachers, he said. "If you have a good science and math background, you can write your ticket," Peters said.

After the question-and-answer period with the students, Peters reiterated how important he thinks math and science skills are.

"If you have those solid skills, there are opportunities for employment out there," he said. "I know a lot of students don't like math, but those skills get jobs.

"Students around the world are focusing on those skills," Peters said. "We're not competing with Ohio. We're competing with China."

Lessons learned

Petrous said he thought the event was a success based on the discussion it generated in his classroom.

"I was lucky enough to have my AP classes right after," he said. "The kids shared some points of agreement and disagreement. They said it was pretty clear where Peters stood on the issues."

Petrous, however, said he stays mum about his political leanings, waiting until the last day of the school year to let students guess which way he votes.

"We're certain in class to show both points of view," he said.

"Obviously these are students who are very engaged in what's happening in their country," Peters said. "Anybody who has any question about whether the country (is going to be OK), just needs to come to Berkley High School and hear these students' questions."