While Rep. Robert Menendez’s (D-13th Dist.) visit to Christopher Columbus Middle School in Union City on April 2 did not include reading “House Mouse, Senate Mouse,” the children’s book that Menendez usually uses to teach students about government, the 22 eighth grade students at the school were still able to learn a lot about how government works.
“I always thought that he had a lot of responsibilities,” said student Johaine Holguin. “But I didn’t think that he had a lot to do. Well, not as much as he said.”
Menendez, who, as vice-chair of the Democratic caucus, is the fourth ranking Democrat in the nation, talked to the students about the different committees that he sits on and the Education Taskforce he chairs.
Being persuasive
Menendez’s visit to the school was sparked by the letters that he received from each student in Lisa Rossi’s humanities class.
“The kids were very persuasive in their letters,” said Menendez, who lives in Union City and started his political career by serving on the city’s school board. “They clearly had a desire to have a visit. They almost unanimously asked.”
The letters were part of a writing assignment that the students had while learning about federal government and how it worked.
“The students chose to write to him,” said Rossi, who added that the students were able to choose which representative they wanted to write to. “They felt that he was a good role model.”
In their letters, the students asked Menendez if he could visit their class and help teach them about how government works.
“I asked him if he wanted to come and share what he does as congressman,” said student Simon Abreu. Other students like Holguin asked about his schedule and how he got started in politics.
“He has to go all the way to Washington in a couple of hours,” said Abreu. “That I didn’t know.”
By asking students what they wanted to be when they grew up, Menendez tried to show the students that government did impact their lives.
“Government has an impact on your life,” said Menendez, explaining that the government sets the standards for what a doctor or lawyer would need to become licensed. “You have to pay attention to it.”
Although Abreu said that he would like to learn more about government, he would still like to stick to his original goal of becoming a computer engineer.
Hometown advantage
Menendez only had to walk a couple of blocks to get to his 9 a.m. appointment at Christopher Columbus School. He spends his weekends at his Union City home with his family.
Some of the students were surprised to hear that Menendez spent most of his life in Union City, attending Roosevelt Grammar School and Union Hill High School.
“I knew that he helped the community,” said Abreu. “I was really shocked that he grew up here. My sisters and brothers went to the same schools he did.”
After Menendez was elected to the school board at the age of 19, he moved on to become mayor of the city and state assemblyman.
“Whenever it is the hometown,” said Menendez. “It always gives you an edge.”