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Two weeks ago I received a call from the governor’s office. Not exactly a call I was expecting. But definitely a good call — especially for high school journalists across the state. The governor’s office wanted to set up a teleconference call with high school newspaper editors and writers. I blasted all 300-plus members of ILPC about the teleconference, and immediately advisers were excited about the opportunity for their students.
On the day of the teleconference, we had a little glitch with the phone number, but nevertheless, it was a great experience for high school journalists across the state.
And as I listened to the teleconference, I beamed with pride as our young journalists asked educated, student-centered questions of the governor and commissioner of education, Robert Scott. Students asked about school funding, the top ten percent rule, school safety (specifically the bus evacuation mandate) and many other important issues. While I was proud, I wasn’t exactly surprised. I expected a solid, professional interview. After looking at hundreds of high school publications this year, I knew our students would impress not only me, but also the governor and commissioner of education. Perhaps what did surprise me, though, was Gov. Rick Perry’s comments before the students started with the questions. Gov. Perry said to the students, “Your time spent on the school newspaper is great preparation for life. It sharpens your senses as you observe life around you, allows you to hone your skills as a writer, and helps you better understand what really matters to the people in your community.” While I may not agree with every answer the governor gave, I certainly concur on this point. The governor understands high school journalism and its important role in education. I am grateful that he took the time to share his thoughts with our high school students. I am also grateful that the governor and the commission of education took the initiative to set up this teleconference and spend more than 45 minutes with our high school journalists. Allison Castle, the governor’s press secretary, said she would like to set up another teleconference for next fall. I am excited about this possibility, and I am confident that again I will beam with pride. If you missed the teleconference, you can watch the video at http://governor.state.tx.us/news/.
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