Students Take Funding Plea to Lawmakers
Les Cheneaux, Rudyard Groups Speak at Capitol
By Amy Polk

Few high school government classes stage a rally at the state capitol, but for Cedarville's American government class, politics was brought to life in Lansing last week when Les Cheneaux Community Schools students read essays and lobbied about the importance of education. They participated in a question and answer session with legislators and had a chance to speak their minds about public education and the impact of budget cuts on their schools and education.

Carissa Sudol, a Cedarville High School junior and part of the 140- person education rally and tour of the Michigan state capitol building Wednesday, May 16, was impressed with the scope of the financial problems facing Michigan.

"It's harder than it seems to balance the budget," she reported. "We can go and say what we think should be done, but that doesn't mean [the legislators] can do it. I thought it was really interesting to see how things work and to talk to them about what happens here, and why legislators do what they do."

The education budget is important to her, not only because her father, Dave Sudol, is a school board member dealing with funding cuts, but because reduced faculty and course offerings at Cedarville means she can't take psychology or sociology classes before she is graduated. She learned others have priorities, too.

"Things are being taken away from schools that are needed, yet buildings and roads are still being built," she said.

Participation in the Lansing trip was optional, and Les Cheneaux Elementary Principal Eric Cardwell invited all Eastern Upper Peninsula schools to go along. It was funded by private donations, and school staff donated their time because parts of it included lobbying to preserve funding for Michigan public schools.

Joining the high school students were Cedarville Middle School and Les Cheneaux Elementary School students, and a group of fifth graders from R.J. Wallis Elementary at Kincheloe.

R.J. Wallis is one of the local schools that has suffered the most from school budget cuts. The 235- student elementary school is slated for closure next year, to be consolidated with the Rudyard district's other elementary school in Rudyard, about 12 miles from Kincheloe.

R.J. Wallis Principal Bill Goetz said of the trip, "For us, it was an opportunity for our fifth grade students to tour the capitol and observe the students of Cedarville reading their essays and participating."

For some, the purpose was to make a strong political statement to lawmakers, reminding them that children are attached to the funding decisions made in Lansing.

"It wasn't so much a 'pro-tax' rally, but just a statement that something needs to be done about the way we fund schools," Mr. Cardwell said. "Even though Proposal A was a good idea at the time, it needs tweaking now, or reform. Education is being shortchanged now."

For students, the trip was a lesson in the democratic process, especially the rights of assembly and free speech. Michigan students learn about Michigan history and government in elementary school and American government in high school. About 28 essays on what education means to students were read by Les Cheneaux students at a podium on the east steps of the capitol building.

"Education to me is the future of the government," wrote Holly Lysinger.

"I think that we are lucky that we have such a good education, because some kids can't go to school. I want to be a doctor or a teacher, but I have to have an edu- cation to be either one," read Shannon Sayles.

"Since I have a good education, I'll give it all I've got and be a hard worker," Monica Krackowski told passersby at the Capitol. "My education will give me strength for the future. It will give me a good job."

Eighty-five elementary, middle, and high school students from the Les Cheneaux district were joined by 20 adults, while R.J. Wallis was represented by about 35 students and adults. In addition to the essays and rally, the group toured the capitol building and participated in a question and answer session with State Representative Gary McDowell and State Senator Jason Allen. They were joined in the session by State Board of Education president, Kathleen Straus.

American history teacher Gretchen Storey said the students "asked some really tough questions" of legislators about where they stood on public school funding.

"I was so proud of the kids," she said.

Mr. Cardwell said it was "one of the best things I've been part of at the schools here."

"It was an awesome civics lesson for the students," he said, adding that it was the first time many students had met their lawmakers or experienced media coverage at the Capitol.