NASHUA — U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., may find answering questions from the Washington, D.C. press corps to be a cinch after her Thursday quiz from Dr. Norman W. Crisp Elementary School third-graders.

About 75 third-grade students sat eagerly in Ashlee Cataldo’s classroom Thursday morning ready to throw questions at Hassan. The students’ questions ranged from what laws she worked on to how many presidents she has met.

Cataldo said all third-grade students are currently learning about the three branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial.

“We’ve been talking about her legislative branch and making laws. This year we’re also focusing on growth mindset and college and career readiness, so for them to see the process that you can do anything is a good thing at an early age,” Cataldo said.

She added, “We are really trying to see how we can get an outside perspective into the classroom, instead of just saying, ‘This is our senator, this is what she does, they can actually hear it from her.”

During her visit, Hassan also shared a lesson of business with the students, telling them what will be expected of the future workforce.

“After you’re all done with school, some of you will be done after high school, some of you will go onto apprenticeships, some of you will go to college, but after you’re all done with school, you’re going to want to be able to earn a living, raise a family, make a life for yourself,” Hassan said. “What businesses all tell me, is they need you guys to be good at reading and math and science. They need you to understand art and music because that helps you think creatively and solve problems. They want you to be able to enjoy recess because recreation and relaxation is important to making sure that you’re healthy.”

Hassan encouraged the students to ask for help if they have difficulty with any topic.

“It is possible for you to learn all of those things, even if you don’t think you like them,” Hassan said.

She left the students with a final message before departing: “You guys can learn anything you need to learn. You can solve any problem you need to solve, but you do have to speak up for help, and help each other. Be kind to each other.”

For Hassan, this visit was important in more ways than one.

“Our students are our next generation of leadership,” Hassan told The Telegraph after her visit. “One, I want them to understand their role in a democracy, even at this young age. Two, it’s really important for me because kids ask really good questions. It’s a very good way to think through what’s on the minds of all my constituents, including children. We want kids to understand that they can be engaged at an early age – that they have an impact.”

“I also want kids to hear from outside voices, too, that education is important and that they should keep at it,” Hassan added.

After visiting with third-graders, Hassan also made a quick stop into a fifth-grade social studies class.

“The fifth-grade class was asking about the environment and climate change and I wanted them to know how important it is that children have been raising their voices,” Hassan said. “I want them, also, to be engaged learners and understand that there isn’t anything they can’t learn.”

Grace Pecci may be reached at 594-1243, or at gpecci@nashuatelegraph.com.

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