Hearing from the Congressman's mouth

Gutknecht reads to third-graders

By KREMENA TODOROVA

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- During an energized and energizing session Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Gil Gutknecht from Minnesota's 1st Congressional District discussed a congressman's work and read a book about an imaginary Congress, to third-graders in Mrs. Ingebritson's class at Jefferson Elementary School in New Ulm.

Gutknecht, whose dynamic pace kept his audience animated through the 45-minute class, led into his topic by briefly contrasting to the U.S. form of government with others and describing Washington, D.C. and some of its landmarks.

Gutknecht showed the students his congressional pin and voting card and had the kids guess about the function of the objects. He then went on to explain the chief role of members of Congress: voting the nation's laws.

Gutknecht also kept students interested by describing some interesting people he has met as a member of Congress (movie stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and John Travolta) and activities he has done (flying on Air Force 1).

As the class progressed, Gutknecht presented students with his "own special bookmark," containing important website addresses related to government, education and learning -- the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, the Smithsonian Institution, etc.

The bookmark bore the inscription "Readers Are Leaders." "Reading is one of the most important things you can learn in elementary school," Gutknecht said.

The book the congressman read, "House Mouse, Senate Mouse," described in terms that students "could understand and relate to," "the work that we do in Washington," said Gutknecht.

A rhymed story about a class of mice who write a letter to their own Congress, the book mirrored the steps of the law-making process.

To present the ideas in a memorable format, it referred, for example, to congress members from states such as "Moussouri" and "Moussissippi."

The last half of the class was spent as a question-and-answer session.

The kids' questions ranged from how long it takes to get to Washington to the congressman's family, pets and whether he likes fishing.

Among many other things, the students wanted to know whether a congressman's work is hard, how long he works, what he likes most about his work, whether he has been to the White House and met the President, how many letters he receives, and how many times he has been to New Ulm.

Having answered the questions, Gutknecht wrapped up the class by having the students recite the logo on his bookmark, "Readers Are Leaders."

"I try to do this every so often," Gutknecht said after the class, commenting on his visit. "It helps charge me up, too."

"The idea is to re-enforce the importance of reading."

Gutknecht was touring the 1st Congressional District during what he referred to as a congressional lull. His tour, in his bright-red Dodge Intrepid, started in his home town, Rochester. He was also making stops Wednesday in towns west of New Ulm, including Jeffers, Slayton and Worthington.