Online Chat
Canaan School 6th Graders
May 3, 2001

Canaan Schools: Hello, this is Kathy Smith from Canaan School.  I am here with my 6th graders and we have our questions for Sen. Leahy.  They are all saying hello.
Sen Leahy: Hi.  This isn't Sen. Leahy -- I'm Luke Albee, his chief of staff.  Sen. Leahy has been in the judiciary committee all morning and is on his way back.   it's 90 degrees down here -- you guys have any snow left?
Canaan Schools: We have a few patches of snow in the woods, but the fields are all turning green.  The temps here have been in the mid-eighties.  It seems as though spring (Mud season) has passed us by this year! (:
Sen Leahy: I am from South Burlington, but live down here with my wife and four little kids.  We came to VT three weeks ago and they thought they were in the north poll.
Sen Leahy: Since you're six graders, I know you are all laughing that I misspelled pole.
Canaan Schools: lol
Canaan Schools: My students just informed me that lol means lots of laughs.  Did you know that?
Sen Leahy: What are the two or three biggest issues on your mind today -- down here, we are about to debate an education bill.
Sen Leahy: I have a 10 year old boy who is teaching me computer speak,  He thinks I was raised by dinosaurs,
Canaan Schools: My students are interested talking with the senator about violence in schools and the increasing drug problems.
Sen Leahy: He just held his second town meeting on these problems this past Monday in Burlington -- he did one in Rutland last month.  in particular, we have been shocked and alarmed by the prevalence of heroin in VT.  Is this a problem in the NE Kingdom?
Canaan Schools: I am curious to hear what he thinks of the simulations of violent episodes in schools in Minnesota.
Sen Leahy: Tell me more about that -- I have a brother who teaches out there but haven't heard about it,
Sen Leahy: (incidentally, the real senator will be here in 2 minutes)
Canaan Schools: Some of my students are saying that they hear about drug problems from older siblings.  St. Johnsbury has a really severe problem with heroin usage.
Sen Leahy: that's what we are afraid of -- but think it will take parents, teachers, law enforcement and kids to all work together on this one.
Sen Leahy: here he is
Canaan Schools: I heard on the news the other night that schools in Minn. are adopting a violence curriculum and it includes actual simulations of shootings and raids of students in schools.
Canaan Schools: Hello to Senator Leahy from the 6th graders.:-)
Sen Leahy: I am sorry for the delay but as often happens I have been in a committee for hours. Glad to be with all of you - my wife who is from the NEKingdom also sends her best.
Canaan Schools: Karissa Doyon would like to ask you how you became a Senator.
Sen Leahy: I hope we don't have to face the kind of school violence other states have. I've lived all my life in Vermont and know how important our sense of security is.
Canaan Schools: Kathy Smith responds to school violence- that is the whole reason I moved to VT with my family.
Sen Leahy: Karissa I grew up in Montpelier and always had an interest in politics. I practiced law in Burlington, became State's Attorney and than ran for the Senate because i felt I could do the most for Vermont in the Senate. For a small state like ours it is the only place we are equal to other states.
Canaan Schools: Abby Young asks, have you ever voted for something that you didn't believe in?
Sen Leahy: Kathy I agree with you and our state is safer than most others. I feel so fortunate that Vermont let's me represent all of us and that i can constantly brag about Vermont to the rest of the Senate!
Sen Leahy: Abby I have never voted for something I did not believe in . As a result I have voted against some things that might seem popular at the time but that I felt would hurt all of us in the long run.
Sen Leahy: I have cast over 10,000 votes and I am sure that in some cases I may have made a mistake - but I always felt I was doing the right thing when I voted.
Canaan Schools: Abby responds that she is happy with that!8-)
Canaan Schools: Wyatt McKibben asks, "How, if at all, does your job change when the President changes?"
Sen Leahy: Wyatt I have been here with 6 Presidents. Because the Senate is part of one the three branches of government my job does not change - in fact I have more influence each year my seniorty increases. Like all Senators I try to work with the President on what is best for the country whether the president is a person I supported or not. Once President he is President for all of us.
Sen Leahy: Incidentally I am impressed with the questions - it shows you are all good students and have excellent teachers.
Canaan Schools: Curtis Labrecque asks if you have ever considered running for President.
Sen Leahy: Curtis if  I started thinking of running for president my wife would probably lock me up in our farm house in Vermont! Besides I have what I think is the best job in the world thanks to my fellow Vermonters.
Canaan Schools: That response got lots of giggles from this end.
Sen Leahy: I do appreciate the implied compliment in the question though.
Canaan Schools: Melinda Marquis asks, "Where is your house in VT?  How often do you get to go back to visit?"
Sen Leahy: Melinda my home is in Middlesex [near Montpelier] and I was there earlier this week and get back home several times every month. I was born in Montpelier and my wife was born in Newport.
Sen Leahy: We can do one more and than i have to go back to the floor of the Senate - I have really enjoyed this.
Sen Leahy: Ms. Smith you have a most impressive class. you must be proud of them and they have certainly learned from you.
Sen Leahy: Meant "learned from you"
Canaan Schools: The rest of my class asks, "How many hours do you work each week.  Do you get vacations often?  Maybe you can come visit us sometime!"
Sen Leahy: Would love to visit you. I work the majority of weekends as well as the rest of the week so they are long weeks but very interesting. When I can get away I love to have a few days at my home in Vermont away from the telephone.
Sen Leahy: Enjoy the great weather we are having in Vermont and hope to see you. Many thanks.