Tester takes questions from PHS seniors
<p><strong>Senator Jon Tester takes questions from Polson High School seniors Friday morning during his visit to the area. The seniors asked Tester questions related to the economic future of the country, the steps they can take to help them in their future, and the status of healthcare in America. </strong></p>
Seniors and a select few faculty members from Polson High School gathered Friday morning in the large music room in the school on the hill to ask Senator Tester questions about the current affairs in the world.
The crowd was ready for Tester, firing question after question toward him and listening intently to his responses.
Tennis coach, Bob Hislop asked Tester why the current interest rates on student loans are so high. He gave an anecdote about his kids and his understanding of the burden loans present to students and graduates. “I think you guys should get your loans for the same premiums as the banks do,” he said. Tester then encouraged the students to get on top of their finances while sympathizing with the class. “If I was going to college, I’d go to a banker that I know and trust and ask what I need to do.”
Polson Senior, Dylan Cooper asked Tester if he thinks it’s possible to eliminate the national debt and how might it be done. “I think there are ways,” Tester said, but also emphasized that it’s a difficult process. Within the same question he addressed fighting terrorism around the world but addressed the expense that war takes. “Terror is real,” Tester said. “But we can’t be involved in 85 percent of the wars.”
Kylie Murphy asked about the state of education in the United States and ways that America can improve its standing in the ranks of world education. Tester said that America still has a wonderful education system and pointed out that people from around the world come to the U.S. for its University systems. But he acknowledged there are flaws in the in the primary level, specifically addressing low teacher wages and his experience as an educator and why he left. “I could make more money in a week cutting meat that I could in two weeks as a teacher,” Tester said. “You’re almost working for food stamp wages if you have a family. That’s criminal.”
The conversation lasted for well over an hour with other issues such as gun control, the Syrian refugee crisis, foreign dependence on manufacturing, and tax issues. Tester has spoken with students around Montana but said that the Polson students are very intelligent and seem to really understand a lot about their world.
“This is a particularly good group,” he said.