Senator uses Skype to chat with WMS students

A class of Whitefish Middle School eighth graders last week got a chance to talk with one the nation’s top lawmakers.

Patrick Dryden’s social studies class talked with Montana Sen. Jon Tester in Washington, D.C. over the Internet via Skype. Through webcams, Tester and students could see each other during the half hour session.

Students fired off questions about current issues from medical marijuana to gay marriage to health care to the Big Mountain Jesus statue.

One student asked his opinion on the Protect America Act, which allows for government surveillance without requiring a warrant. The senator seemed impressed with the question.

“You being up on this issue puts you in front of 95 percent of folks,” he said.

Tester explained that he doesn’t agree with the act.

“I like to see civil liberties protected,” he said. “We shouldn’t be tracking people.”

Another student asked Tester about his position on gay marriage.

“The Montana constitution says marriage is between a man and a woman,” Tester said. “I’m not opposed to civil unions.”

On medical marijuana, Tester said he supports marijuana for use by people with “real pain.” The students followed up with another question asking if the senator would support the legalization of marijuana.

“I wouldn’t support out and out legalization of marijuana,” he said.

On health care, Tester said the system is broken. “We need to look out for those that are the most disadvantaged,” he said. “We need to start making advancements in health care.”

When it came to the potential removal of a Jesus statue from National Forest Service land on Big Mountain, Tester said he spoke with representatives of the U.S. Department of Interior who assured him the statue would remain in place.

Students asked several questions about the Keystone Pipeline and U.S. energy.

Tester said he would like to see the pipeline built so the U.S. doesn’t have to import oil from the Middle East. It’s important to make sure the environment is protected as well, he noted.

More focus needs to be put on research and development for all types of energy, Tester noted, pointing out that Montana is a good state for the use of solar, geothermal and biomass energy.

Wrapping up the session, Tester thanked students for the chance to speak with them.

“In the next four plus years you have the opportunity to learn,” he said. “Take full advantage of that — apply yourself and study hard.”

Stephenne Harding, a Whitefish graduate who works in Tester’s Washington, D.C. office, arranged the Skype session. While home for a visit, Harding suggested the session to Dryden, who is neighbors with her family.

Following the session, Dryden said he was impressed with the questions his students asked. Students recently wrote research papers on current events issue.

“They’ve been following the issues for the last few months,” he said. “I want to make these guys lifelong learners.”