Online Chats
Over the past several years Sen. Leahy has conducted many online chats with students of all ages throughout Vermont. Leahy has found them to be very informative and fun, both for the students and for the Senator himself. The goal for these chats is to encourage student civic participation by demonstrating that government is accessible and accountable to their concerns.
Leahy is always impressed by the level of knowledge, curiosity, and creativity that our students' questions reflect. Questions range from topics such as landmines, the death penalty and the environment, to what it is like to be a United States senator and whether or not he believes that Champ, the Lake Champlain sea monster, exists.
Below are links to a summary of online chats Sen. Leahy has held with students in Vermont. To view any of these summaries just click on the title of your choice.
Lyndon Institute
Senator Leahy conducted an online chat with 11th and 12th graders from the Lyndon Institute of the Northeast Kingdom. He was impressed with the students' breadth of knowledge, and appreciates their drive to become further involved in their government, especially through voting. The Senator also enjoyed discussing what led him to become a lawyer, and about the ways in which conversations with Vermonters have inspired him to draft legislation.… Continue Reading
04.07.16
Camel’s Hump Middle School
On April 7, 2016, Senator Leahy held an online chat with the seventh graders of Camel's Hump Middle School. The Senator was impressed by the students' questions, especially their interest in his work in Cuba and about the upcoming election. He also enjoyed discussing his reasons for wanting to become a Senator, and about his favorite things to do when he is home in Vermont.… Continue Reading
02.09.16
The Newton School
On February 9, 2015, Senator Leahy held an online chat with the third, fourth and fifth grade social studies classes of the Newton School. The Senator was quite impressed by the students' questions, specifically about their interest in his role as U.S. Senator for Vermont. The Senator was also impressed by the efforts of the students' teacher, Mr. Walker, to create the "Society Game" in which students learn about real life situations facing the world today.… Continue Reading
02.03.16
Barre Town Middle and Elementary School
On February 3, 2015, the Senator held an online chat with the fourth graders of the Barre Town School. Senator Leahy was impressed with the students' questions, especially with regards to their desire to understand the ways in which we can promote change in our communities.… Continue Reading
11.18.15
Chamberlin School, South Burlington, VT
On November 18, 2015, Senator Leahy hosted an online chat with the Chamberlin School of South Burlington. The Senator was impressed with the engagement of the fifth grade classrooms, and enjoyed their rendition of their school song. The Senator also enjoyed answering their questions on his long term projects in the Senate, like his work on the USDA Farm to School grant program.… Continue Reading
10.07.15
Green Mountain Union H.S.
Senator Leahy held his first online chat of the 2015-2016 school year with the 10th and 11th graders from the Green Mountain Union High School of Chester, Vt. These students were part of the Youth and Teachers Transforming Schools Together (YATST) program, which encourages student participation in decisions regarding school change. Senator Leahy was very impressed by all of the students' questions, especially with regards to college affordability, gun control and workforce development in Vermont… Continue Reading
06.02.15
People’s Academy of Morrisville,
On June 2, 2015, Senator Leahy held an online chat with multiple grades at the People's Academy of Morrisville. The Senator enjoyed a lively discussion with the students, and enjoyed their questions regarding minimum wage and the importance of supporting the needs of Vermonters. He was especially impressed by the students' discussion on the future of Congress and the country as a whole.… Continue Reading
05.20.15
Gilman Middle School
On May 20, 2015, Senator Leahy conducted an online chat with the seventh and eighth graders of Gilman Middle School. Senator Leahy enjoyed discussing the Trans-Pacific-Partnership and the role of China in the global economy. He was especially impressed by the students' difficult questions regarding mandatory vaccinations and ISIS.… Continue Reading
05.05.15
St. Johnsbury Academy
On May 5, 2015, Senator Leahy held an online chat with St. Johnsbury Academy's AP Government and Microeconomics classes. He was impressed by the students' questions regarding his role on the Judiciary Committee, as well as their discussion on the impact of the filibuster and cloture procedures in the U.S. Senate. Senator Leahy especially enjoyed hearing the students' aspirations to become leaders in Congress.… Continue Reading
04.30.15
Stowe Student Council
On April 29, 2015, Senator Leahy held an online chat with the Stowe Elementary Student Council fourth and fifth graders for his eleventh year. He is always impressed by Stowe's students, and especially enjoyed discussing their observations regarding the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. He was also impressed by their questions about human rights and the issue of the Washington Redskins changing their name.… Continue Reading
04.22.15
The Danville School
On April 22, 2015, Senator Leahy held an online chat with the 11th and 12th grade classrooms of Danville School. Senator Leahy was impressed by the students' questions on how things have changed in his four decades in Congress. He also enjoyed their questions regarding the Presidential race and religious freedom.… Continue Reading
03.24.15
Jericho Elementary School
On March 24, 2015, Senator Leahy held an online chat with Jericho Elementary School's 4th grade. He was impressed by the youngsters' interest in how a bill becomes a law and about his process for identifying key priorities for Vermonters. He especially enjoyed talking to them about his inspiration to become a Senator and on tactics for remaining hopeful even during distressful political times.… Continue Reading
03.19.15
Bellows Free Academy Middle School
On March 19, 2015, Senator Leahy held an online chat with the 8th graders of Bellows Free Academy Middle School. He was impressed by the classroom's engagement on the Constitution and its effect on building legislation in the U.S. Senate. He also enjoyed discussing how his experience as Vermont's State Attorney has helped him as a Senator serving Vermonters.… Continue Reading
03.11.15
Windham Southeast Supervisory Union
On March 11, 2015, Senator Leahy held an online chat with the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade classrooms of Putney Central School. Senator Leahy was impressed by the students' questions regarding school nutrition and the organic farming movement. He also enjoyed answering their questions on climate change and ways in which Vermont is leading the nation in renewable energy initiatives.… Continue Reading
02.09.15
Colchester High School, Colchester, VT:
On Thursday, February 5, Senator Leahy led an engaging discussion with Colchester High School's "Civics in Action" class. Comprised of seniors looking to take action on issues facing their communities, the Senator was impressed by the students' in-depth questions, and with their drive to help people in need. He especially enjoyed talking about how Vermont has changed politically since he took office, and about what we can all do to promote peace and reduce poverty.… Continue Reading
02.09.15
Malletts Bay School, Colchester, VT:
On Wednesday, February 4, Senator Leahy hosted an online chat with fifth graders of the Malletts Bay School. The children engaged in an interesting discussion about their ideas for change throughout the nation. Senator Leahy particularly enjoyed hearing about their desire to stop bullying in schools. He also liked telling them about his life before becoming a U.S. Senator, and about his goal to pass legislation to protect the privacy of Americans in the 114th Congress.… Continue Reading
01.11.15
Woodstock Middle/High School
On February 11, 2015, Senator Leahy held an online chat with Woodstock Union High School's AP Government class. Senator Leahy was impressed by the students' engagement on topics such as Cuba, immigration, and clashes between police officers and citizens throughout the country. Senator Leahy was especially engaged in the students' highlighting of the Mount Anthony Union High School's "professional integrity audit" of Fox News after Bill O'Reilly aired a rather negative segment on Bennington, Verm… Continue Reading
11.19.14
Ludlow Elementary School
On November 19, Senator Leahy held an online chat with 12 students from Ludlow Elementary School's 6th grade classroom. The Senator enjoyed answering the students' challenging questions related to immigration policy, the recent midterm elections and the ways that Democrats and Republicans can work together to solve the nation's problems. He enjoyed telling the students the story of when he brought batman to visit the Kellogg Hubbard Library in Montpelier.… Continue Reading
06.02.14
Canaan Elementary School
On June 2, Senator Leahy held an online chat with Canaan Elementary School. The Senator discussed with both the teachers and the students about how laws are made and the difficult elements of being a United States Senator. This online chat was held on one of 25 computers at Canaan that were donated through the Computers for Schools program, which is run by the United States Senate Sargent at Arms. Each year, Computers for Schools distributes used computers to different schools across the count… Continue Reading
05.19.14
Mettawee Community School
On May 19, Senator Leahy held his fourth online chat of 2014 with 30 4th and 5th grade students from the Mettawee Community School of West Pawlet. The students questions ranged from addressing the Senator's work in securing bulletproof vests for law enforcement in Vermont to the Senator's thoughts on gun control. The Senator also spoke about his love of fishing and photography and his home on a tree farm in Vermont.… Continue Reading
