BY TOM SHORTELL
Jeanny Acerra peppered Bradley Beach Elementary Schools fourth grade class with questions before a special guest visited them Tuesday afternoon.
Assemblyman David Rible was coming to talk to the class about the legislative process, so she quizzed the students on their state knowledge.
What do you call the people who run the county government, the social studies teacher asked.
Freeloaders? innocently answered one student.
Rible told the class that he and other state legislators introduce bills they think will improve the lives of people in New Jersey. The bill then goes to before a committee for review, then the state senate and assembly and finally to the governor if its going to become a law.
The assemblyman answered questions before signing autographs for the enthusiastic class.
One student asked Rible why he became an assemblymen.
Rible answered that he liked helping people. He had been a police officer originally, but found another way to help by running for office. I saw that I could serve people like you better, he said.
Another student asked if hes ever seen a bill he didnt like. Rible said yes and explained he has to keep his consituents in mind when he votes.
I have to say, That may be a good idea, but it doesnt help the people in my district, Rible said.
The class had questions for the assemblyman on other topics as well, like whats your favorite candy, have you ever met the president and do you drive everywhere in a limo (Reeses peanut butter cups, no, and no).
Rible asked the students to take an oath that he wrote. The oath read that they would be good students, work hard, obey their parents and bring pride to the state of New Jersey.
After his visit was over, Rible said he visits classes not only to help children learn about the state, but to help keep them on the right path on the topics in the oath. I want to try to instill good values, he said.
The class has studied New Jersey for several weeks and visited the State House and Trenton barracks May 7 with Accera, a seventh grade teacher who formally taught fourth grade, and Amy Roth, the current fourth grade teacher.
The class was impressed with the paintings of the governors, the statue of Abraham Lincoln and the gold leafing of the dome, among other things.
Fourth grader Joel Ruiz was a bit unnerved by the chandelier in the Assembly Chamber. It was really scary, he said. It was like, there was this big chandelier hanging from the roof that you thought was going to fall.
Classmate Shane Nolan didnt have that worry about the trip, saying, It was really cool. Its good to know about your state.
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