Senator Sanders listens to a query from a scholar at BFA Fairfax. Courtesy picture.

Vermont Enterprise Journal Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) spoke with greater than 1,150 college students on Wednesday and Thursday in Milton, Fairfax, Montpelier, and Barre concerning the psychological well being disaster dealing with younger folks. At every faculty, Sanders additionally held roundtable discussions with lecturers, steerage counselors and workers concerning the state of schooling in Vermont, challenges the varsity group has skilled as results of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impression of social media on scholar studying and well-being.

Through the city conferences at Milton Excessive Faculty, Bellows Free Academy Fairfax, U-32 Center & Excessive Faculty, and Spaulding Excessive Faculty, Sanders held question-and-answer classes to listen to immediately from the scholars concerning the points they care about and the way the federal authorities can deal with the wants of younger folks.

All through the city conferences, college students shared their ideas on subjects starting from struggles with melancholy, nervousness, and ideas of suicide; considerations about household revenue and need to help their dad and mom; the usage of e-cigarettes; in addition to bigger societal points just like the excessive prices of school and well being care. College students additionally spoke extensively about social media, which they recognized as a strategy to join with mates however which can also result in emotions of separation, loneliness, and inferiority.

“There isn’t any query that our younger folks have handled lots over the previous few years, and as a state and nation, now we have numerous work to do to assist them,” stated Sanders. “Nevertheless, listening to from these Vermont college students actually offers me hope. They’re engaged. They’re making their voices heard. They’re preventing for a greater future for his or her technology. Each time I converse with younger Vermonters I’m impressed by their insights and concepts about how we transfer ahead. I very a lot loved the discussions.”

“Our college felt heard by Senator Sanders concerning the challenges our college students and households face each day,” stated Elizabeth Noonan, Principal at Bellows Free Academy Fairfax. “The psychological well being disaster dealing with our college students nationwide not solely impacts them at this second in time however will considerably impression the approaching generations as they grow to be professionals and begin households. We glance with hope to Congress to search out partnerships and alternatives to satisfy the wants of our college students. Senator Sanders’ engagement with our excessive schoolers offered a exceptional alternative for him to listen to the challenges they face and establish micro and macro-level points impacting their psychological well being.”

“We’re so lucky to stay in a state the place our U.S. Senator, Bernie Sanders, can get enter immediately from our college students, college, and workers concerning the necessary points dealing with schooling right now,” stated Mary Jane Stinson and Anne Blake, Co-Principals at Milton Excessive Faculty.

“It isn’t day by day {that a} politician who represents our state involves our faculty to listen to what college students assume,” stated Yolanda Bansah, a junior at U-32 Center & Excessive Faculty. “It was good to know that our opinions are valued. It gave us an perception into what’s going on in Congress on our behalf. It was an ideal expertise to have the ability to converse to our consultant and have him hear our voices and reply to our questions.”

“We actually appreciated the chance for Senator Sanders to listen to the scholar and instructor voices about points that matter to them,” stated Steven Dellinger-Pate, Principal at U-32 Center & Excessive Faculty. “The senator’s help for psychological well being providers for our college students and households can solely assist us present a greater schooling for all our college students.”

“We’re very appreciative that Senator Sanders visited Spaulding Excessive Faculty,” stated Luke Aither, Co-Principal at Spaulding Excessive Faculty. “Youth voices should be dropped at the nationwide stage and I’m very glad the senator was in a position to hear so many various views from our college students.”

As Chair of the Senate Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Sanders will convey what he heard from these Vermont college students and lecturers again to Washington with him as he works to handle the various challenges they face.

Supply: BURLINGTON, Vt., April 7 – Sen. Bernie Sanders