Bull Run Civics Class Visits Richmond, Meets Governor

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Governor Terry McAuliffe smiles when civics teacher Riley O'Casey says her curriculum is too big to cover the names of the Lt. Governor and Attorney General. Governor Terry McAuliffe smiles when civics teacher Riley O'Casey says her curriculum is too big to cover the names of the Lt. Governor and Attorney General. (Sen. Jeremy Pike to the right.)

Eighty-five students in Riley O’Casey’s Bull Run Middle School 8th grade civics classes visited Richmond, Virginia, Feb. 4, where they toured the state capitol building and met with Governor McAuliffe.

It all began about four years ago. Democrat Terry McAuliffe (D) was still campaigning for governor of Virginia and had just finished speaking at the annual Virginia Education Association (VEA) Convention.

McAuliffe had just delivered a speech, which O’Casey described as inspirational. Disappointed that she was not called upon to ask him a question, she waited for the statesman outside the convention hall.

O’Casey, who in addition to being an 8th grade teacher is the Vice President of the Prince William Education Association (PWEA), decided to use her meeting with the future governor to call him to task about supporting public education.

“You are a very persuasive speaker, Mr. McAuliffe, but teachers will believe anything you say because they are so demoralized by our current Governor’s lack of support or public education,” she told him. “If you win, I expect you to keep your word and fight for our children and school employees.”

O’Casey remembers McAuliffe replied, “You have my word.”

She went on to invite McAuliffe to come and speak to her students.

Last year, prior to November 2015 election, O’Casey ran into the Governor when he was in Prince William, campaigning for another individual. She reminded him how he had told her he would like to come and talk with her students. Thus, began “an adventure I’m not sure I ever want to do again,” of trying to schedule a time for McAuliffe to visit her school.

Finally, after much back and forth, one of McAuliffe’s assistants decided it would be easier to invite O’Casey’s students down to Richmond.

“What started as the Governor coming to Bull Run to meet my students, ended in my classes invited to Richmond by the Governor to tour the Executive Mansion, tour the Capitol and a Q&A with the Governor in his office,” O’Casey said. “Well, the latter seemed to be a better opportunity, right?”

While preparing for the trip, O’Casey’s class was also invited to visit the Virginia General Assembly. She arranged meeting with two Prince William representatives in Richmond, Republican Del. Rich Anderson (51st District-) and Democrat Sen. Jeremy McPike (29th District).

After all the permission slips had been handed in, and the preparations had been made, the day was finally upon them. Students boarded the buses in Haymarket, that Thursday morning, destined for Richmond, Virginia’s state capital.

Once in Richmond, their first stop was the Governor’s home, known as the Executive Manor. There, the students received an historic tour. According to O’Casey, the clear highlight was meeting the McAuliffe family dog, Daisy.

Their Second stop was the Virginia State Capitol Building for a group photo, and to meet the statesmen. There they were met by Sen. McPike, which the students enjoyed greatly.

“His office was very helpful and arranged much of our field trip. He was fantastic with our students and engaged them in great conversation. Our students were quite impressed with this new senator," O'Casey said.

(Unfortunately, due to a death in the family, Anderson could not make the meeting.)

However, they were still awaiting the guest of honor. Signs of his arrival caused a stir among the students.

“The anticipation of knowing the Governor was coming soon was palpable,” said O’Casey, noting the students’ excitement levels grew as McAuliffe’s detail approached their group.

Governor McAuliffe turned the corner of the Capitol and shouted towards them, “How are these Bull Run Eagles doing today?”

In that moment, O’Casey said she thought to herself, 'this is pretty cool.'

However, the following experience was not quite what the students had expected. McAuliffe delivered a brief speech, took a few photos and shook a few hands.

“Then we were nicely encouraged to leave the steps of the Capitol, so the next group could meet the Governor,” O’Casey said.

The students had just 10 minutes with the Governor, but according to O’Casey the required forms indicated they would receive half an hour. This discrepancy resulted in some head-scratching and disappointment on the part of the students and chaperones.

However, there was more to do on their agenda. The third stop was inside the General Assembly and a tour of the Capitol, which O’Casey described as being interesting to some students, but not everyone.

“These are 8th graders; that’s expected,” O’Casey said.

Many most enjoyed the final leg of the trip, which involved eating lunch, visiting the gift shop and chatting their friends.

The next day, students sat down to fill out a field trip reflection form to indicate likes, dislikes and to synthesize and reflect upon what they had learned.

Although she believes it was a very worthwhile trip overall, O’Casey said the majority of the students, about 85 percent, expressed their frustration that they received very little dialogue with the Governor.

“It seemed like it was just a photo op for him and meeting with us was just a second thought,” wrote one student. Many provided similar statements.

While O’Casey understands the Governor has many responsibilities, she thinks that not only did her students miss out, but the Governor also missed an opportunity to meet the people whose are affected by his legislation.

“Both would have benefitted from the experience. The Governor may have learned more about the importance of supporting public education in our state and our students would have understood his role in running our state government.”

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