Holt Talks Education Funding with South Brunswick High School Students

As a member of Congress, Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) is used to facing tough questions. A visit to South Brunswick High School earlier this week provided no exception.  Rep. Holt was on hand visiting with students to discuss issues ranging from the state of public education to the conflict in the Middle East.

"I didn't get any softball questions from the students," Holt said.  "These were well-informed students."

Holt visited with students in two social studies classes, in addition to meeting with the SBHS Junior Statesmen of America.  

"The students were quite interested in the Middle East and what role the U.S. should be taking, be it a diplomatic or military role," Holt said.  "I agreed with the students that the U.S. shouldn't make decisions just on economic issues, but also that human rights should enter into the discussion as well."

Touching on topics from his victory over the IBM Watson computer in Jeopardy, to the G.I. Bill, Holt also told the students about the misconceptions of offshore drilling as a solution to the country's energy woes.

"Offshore drilling may bring down gas prices temporarily at best, but it's not a long-term solution," he said.  "Even if we drilled up and down the coast, we would never produce as much oil either as we once did or as we use today."

Holt said he tries to impress upon students each time he visits a school how the study of history can increase their understanding of issues currently facing both the U.S. and entire world.

"I often talk about the historical roots of today's issues," he said.  "The study of history is not irrelevant to what's going on today.  People need to understand the historical roots of these things we're facing to get the full picture."

Of course, one of the main questions asked of Holt related to education funding. Holt believes it is critical to make investments in education and to sustain those investments long term.  Since joining the House Committee on Education in 1999, Holt has worked to form comprehensive education policies that "improve early childhood education, invest in teacher training and set high standards for our students," according to his web site.

"The students were very concerned that there's going to be bigger cuts to education in the future," Holt said.  "I was asked whether funding to education is in trouble.  And I said, well yes it is.  They're citizens and many of them may not be old enough to vote, but there's still a reason to be involved because it's their future.  So students need to find different ways to be involved."

Holt added that from his perspective, visiting with students is one of his responsibilities as an elected official.

 "I do visit with students a lot, and as I told them today, they may not be old enough to vote but they're still citizens and I owe them an account of what I'm doing," he said.  "I need to hear what they're thinking because I represent them too."