Senators today have packed schedules full of meetings, traveling and creating legislature to improve the lives of those they represent. For Sen. John Proos (R-St. Joseph) his March schedule includes one addition, visiting students’ classrooms in southwest Michigan’s 21st District to share the importance of reading for National Reading Month.
On Friday, Proos addressed students Joann Ripley’s third grade class at Ballard Elementary, one of several classes at Ballard he visited that day. After showing students a video depicting a day in the senator’s life, which started with making coffee with his fourth grade daughter Nora, Proos told students reading was a ticket to adventure that could help them to develop interest in new topics.
He shared with students the adventure he was experiencing reading a book called “Shadow Divers,” which is about a discovered sunken submarine ship that was found 210 feet below the surface of the ocean.
“This [book] allowed me to see what it was like to be diving 210 feet under water,” Proos said.
Students got to choose which one of two books they wanted Proos to read aloud. Students choose “Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum,” written by Michigander Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith, also a Michigan resident. The book was selected as the featured title of the 2017 “Michigan Reads! One State, One Children’s Book” program.
The senator’s visit also offered an opportunity to teach students about his role in government. Proos said one of the most important aspects of his job was listening to the community members in southwest Michigan’s 21st District and representing them in the Michigan Senate.
“I represent all of you,” Proos said to students.
When Proos asked if students had any questions about his work in the state capital of Lansing, a number of students’ raised their hands eagerly.
Students asked about the people his job might have given him the chance to meet, including President Trump. Proos said he had not met Trump, but had been in the same room as him during a meeting in Washington D.C. They were also curious if he had the chance to meet pop-star Justin Bieber, since he mentioned that he had been to Canada. Proos found the question comical and said that unfortunately he had not had the chance to meet the Canadian-born star.
“It is always fun to take their questions,” Proos said. “There are always funny, funny questions coming from the kids.”
After reading to several classes, Proos said that the visits are also an opportunity for him to gauge the needs of the education sector.
“For me it helps me to better understand [the needs] when it comes to education policy and education funding and to see how things are going to be in the classroom and talk to teachers to understand what is going on,” Proos said.
Growing up, Proos said he never had the chance to meet an elected official while in school and he hoped it would be a special experience for Ballard students.
Proos said the visits are a tradition and that each March, he visits a new school every week to share a book and spread the love of reading.
“It certainly does not hurt to spend some time with the kids and read a book or two and take questions,” Proos said.