Napa Valley Register - Rep. Mike Thompson visits students at AmCan Middle School

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, visited with eighth-grade students in Ms. Jo Ann Clark’s U.S. history class at American Canyon Middle School. As a part of their project based learning unit called a “Message to Congress,” students actively researched and prepared documentary films about a current issue that is important to them.

Students used their knowledge of the legislative process and their First Amendment right to petition the government to submit their documentary to a national C-SPAN student competition. Students were advocating for specific congressional action on the issues important to them: stopping gun violence, energy conservation, equal rights for all, preventing high school dropouts, expensive school lunches, and many others.

Besides sending their documentaries to C-SPAN, they also sent them directly to California U.S. representatives and senators. Thompson responded to the students’ passionate calls to action within four days of receiving them. The students were proud that their U.S. representative came so quickly to hear their point of view on these topics.

Thompson connected with students by sharing with them how he serves them in Congress and what a typical week is like for a congressional representative.

While talking with the students whose topic was preventing high school dropouts, he shared his own personal journey toward a high school diploma. He also shared about growing up in the Napa Valley, his service in Vietnam, his education at Napa Valley College and Chico State, as well as his time as a professor at Chico State and San Francisco State universities — all prior to his service in the California Legislature and U.S. Congress.

Thompson told the students that, after hearing their articulate and well-reasoned arguments, he felt hopeful for the positive impact these students would have on our country.

Dan Scudero is the principal at American Canyon Middle School.