Online Chat
Stowe Elementary School
March 9, 1999

[PatLeahy]  Glad to be with you - feel free to start. Looks a little like Vermont here in Washington with the snow today.

[StoweElem]  Greetings from the student council here at Stowe Elementary School! Thank you for giving us this opportunity to chat with you. We were elected by our classmates to represent our school as role models for our student body and community

[PatLeahy]  I was on the student council in high school in Montpelier. It is a great experience and shows you must work very hard.

[StoweElem]  We think it is an honor to be on the student council and we have been taught to respect it. Do you think it is an honor to be a Senator?

[PatLeahy]  I think it is a great privilege to be a Senator and I am grateful to my fellow Vermonters for making it possible to be here. It is also a real responsibility to represent Vermont as well as possible.

[StoweElem]  Caleb would like to know if you ever thought you would be a senator when you were in elementary school?

[PatLeahy]  Caleb I actually thought about it and remember talking with my grandfather about that. It wasn't until I was in law school that I actually had serious thoughts about it. Atg the time I ran everyone said I could not win but my family and friends worked very hard to help me and I was elected in 1974.

[PatLeahy]  Please excuse any mistakes Imake typing - I hope I am a better Senator than a typist!

[StoweElem]  We try to follow important world events in school and at home. We find that we are disappointed by weak news programs such as an hour long news program on dreams. Ross would like to know what your opinion is on the topics discussed on the news?

[PatLeahy]  Ross I think some of the so called news programs are very weak and seem more interested in their entertainment value. Some are good and I think Jim Lehrer is very good. I read a number of newspapers every day as a source of news because I find most TV news is too superficial.

[StoweElem]  Kevin would like to know how we as students can change the topics the news covers?

[PatLeahy]  Kevin I think most news media do listen to their readers and viewers. Certainly if you see something you like you should feel free to write and tell them - and also if you don't like what you read. Somewhere an editor will see that.

[StoweElem]  This year here as SES we raised money to send to a school in Burkino Faso, West Africa. They used our money to help buy tools and seeds to make ans plant a garden. This garden will be used as a source of food and money for the school and community.

[StoweElem]  Jon would like to know how we can do more things to help poor families in other countries and here in Vermont.

[PatLeahy]  I am VERY proud of SES for doing that. This is a very poor area of Africa. We had an Ambassador there who grew up with me in Montpelier and he has said how much things like you did helped. We are so blessed with living in the country we do that we should help those far less fortunate as you did.

[StoweElem]  Austin would like to know what you think is better to do for others... buying them tools and teaching them to use them or sending them food and money?

[PatLeahy]  Jon there are many programs in Vermont that help a great deal. You probably read how the Food Bank's building collapsed in Washington County and they are moving into a new building in Barre. They can use help as can some of the hunger programs in Lamoille county.

[PatLeahy]  Austin I don't think this has to be an either/or question. One can do both and often should do both. The goal should be to let them be self sufficient if possible.

[StoweElem]  Ashley would like to know when you first found out you were going to be Senator, was it the way you imagined it to be?

[PatLeahy]  Ashley it was a lot different than I thought it would be. There is an enormous amount of work involved but it is far more interesting than I ever thought possible. One of the best part is the hundreds of people in both parties that I have been able to work with and the things a Senator can do for his state and country.

[StoweElem]  Tyler would like to know if you have heard of the DARE program?

[StoweElem]  In our school we likd it when the DARE Police Officer came in every week and lead the DARE Program.

[PatLeahy]  Tyler I have heard of DARE and I have heard that it has worked in some areas. I have spoken at a couple of their programs. When I was a State's Attorney in Chittenden County I went to schools with a drunk driving program. One should NEVER drive after drinking.

[PatLeahy]  Any other questions before I go back to the Senate floor?

[StoweElem]  Kevin thinks that we should have DARE available for all students kindergarten and up.

[StoweElem]  Thank you for chatting with us. We have more topics to discuss with you. Tucker would love it if you could visit with us. Is there a way we can continue our discussion?

[StoweElem]  Kristen feels she has a personal connection with you. Her grandmother was the late Helen Lawrence.

[PatLeahy]  Tucker feel free to ask a further question if you would like - I just wish I could be there in person.

[PatLeahy]  Kristen your grandmother was a wonderful person as you know.

[StoweElem]  Perhaps we could email you or write you a letter!?

[PatLeahy]  Please e-mail or write to me and I will answer - and I still hope I can come by sometime when the Senate is not in session. This has been the nicest part of my day!

[StoweElem]  Thank you. We enjoyed this as well! Have a great day! Good bye!

[PatLeahy]  Good bye and come visit Washington sometime too.