VENTURA : Lawmaker Meets With Students
Assemblyman Jack O’Connell’s (D-Carpinteria) visit to Montalvo School in Ventura Friday was prompted by a barrage of letters he received from Montalvo students concerned about bicycle helmets and television violence.
But his discussion with 200 third- through fifth-grade students in the school cafeteria quickly turned to topics of more pressing interest to the children.
O’Connell asked the students if there are any laws they would like to see changed.
Eight-year-old Mallory Bricker suggested that the state should require students to stay in school longer each day so they can learn more, a comment that was met with a burst of jeers and boos from her classmates.
“I hope you’re not planning on running for class president,” O’Connell told Mallory.
Another student suggested that the state shorten the school day to two hours. And one child said schoolchildren should not have to work any harder than state legislators.
“I think if you only have to work four days we should only have to go to school four days,” 9-year-old Heather McNally said.
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