State Representatives Dennis Riddell and Steve Ross toured Alamance-Burlington Schools Monday as part of the inaugural North Carolina Bring Your Legislator to School Day.
Representative Ross visited a music class at Smith Elementary School and even picked up the tambourine and joined in. Ross said the arts are so important to keep students engaged in school. “I was especially impressed with the bilingual classrooms that I visited today. It was remarkable to see elementary students responding in two languages and engaging in conversations in both languages,” Ross said.
Representative Dennis Riddell visited Southern Alamance High School, where he toured the recent improvements as a result of the educational bond investments. He also visited several classrooms during his tour.
“It's crucial for our students to see legislators in our classrooms, showing interest in their education. I sincerely hope that today's visit provides them with a better perspective when making decisions in Raleigh that affect our students," said Lynn Bare, an English teacher at Southern High School.
Senator Amy Galey, who co-sponsored the initiative, was unable to join the tour due to state budget meetings taking place today in Raleigh. However, Galey expressed her intentions to visit ABSS in the following weeks.
“Relationships are the core of public service. Bring Your Legislator to School Day is an important opportunity for General Assembly members to connect with educators in their communities, build relationships, and learn more about education from the classroom perspective,” said Sen. Amy Galey. “Often we attend conferences, lunches, presentations, and seminars where we discuss policy; however, decision-makers need to refresh their understanding of the impact of those decisions by visiting children where they are learning.”
