Disclosure: Earlier this month, high school students from the Fonda-Fultonville College Participation In Government class took a trip to the New York State Capitol to meet with their district representatives. What better way than to have the students share their experience with our school community.
With that being said, please take a moment to read the following article from FFHS seniors Madison Thomson & Carly Atty. We hope you enjoy reading about their experiences that day!
On Thursday, May 5, 2022, The Fonda-Fultonville College Participation In Government class took a trip to the New York State Capitol Building to meet with our district representatives. We gained new knowledge on how our state government operates during a tour of this phenomenal state building. This trip has left a lasting impact on our class and opened our eyes to government functions.
New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey was asked about tuition costs, inflation, language education, mental health, and potholes. She provided detailed responses to each question despite our limited time. It was mentioned that language education is important, however, not much could be done at the legislative level, so students should send inquiries to the New York State Education Department. For tuition, she stated that there was a set of bills passed on May 4, 2022 consisting of $150 billion dollars for SUNY schools. On the topic of inflation, she mentioned the state is focused on creating a gas tax holiday with 16 cents off a gallon. Lastly, legislators are also focused on mental health as there is a $100 million grant for public schools to provide more professional services. We learned a great deal about how the state is looking for meaningful solutions to present day problems for New Yorkers. Overall, the interview with Michelle Hinchey was terrific, leaving students with new knowledge as we move forward after high school.
New York State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara answered questions about the same topics. In regards to inflation, as stated above, legislators are focusing on taking off 16 cents a gallon for a gas tax holiday. In addition, when questioned about transportation and inflation, Santabarbara stated that the city of Amsterdam is introducing CDTA busing to provide alternate transportation to those who may need it. The Assemblyman appreciated our idea of introducing sign language into educational facilities, due to the fact that he has learned sign language to communicate with his son. However, he explained to us that this is out of his control as of now, seeing as how the New York State Education Department is a separate entity. Regarding the high prices of college tuition, Assemblyman Santabarbara explained he wishes the state could bring free college tuition for all residents of New York that stay in the state for five years and that they have given money to SUNY schools which will allow them to lower their tuition rates.
Aside from conversations with Hinchey and Santabarbara, students were also able to walk around the capitol building and observe the architecture. The designs within the building were exquisite and contained an incomparable amount of detail. One of the most amazing pieces was the Million Dollar Staircase, which was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson, and cost $1.5 million. Within the staircase, there are 77 famous faces carved with great detail including Abraham Lincoln, William Shakespeare, and Clara Barton. Overall, the experience was truly unforgettable and our class had the ability to see, first hand, the impacts of government.
Madison Thomson & Carly Atty