U.S. Sen. Bob Graham came to Nova High School on Monday to conduct a course in government by asking his students questions, but many of them left disappointed they didn`t get more answers from him.
``A lot of students are very skeptical about government,`` Samantha Harris, a senior from Plantation, said before Graham arrived. ``I`m turning 18 in February, and I`m going to be voting soon.``
Graham, who has spent 259 ``work days`` at various jobs during his political career, came to teach the high school juniors and seniors how government works. His teaching method was the Socratic dialogue -- asking questions to provoke thinking.
Graham asked the 40 students from American government, U.S. history and journalism classes what kinds of problems they would like to have the government solve. Homelessness, school budget cuts, affirmative action and high taxes were some issues the students suggested.
Then the senator asked how they would work to solve the problems if they had a semester to do it. Find out who`s responsible, they replied.
When Graham later opened the floor for questions, the students held Graham responsible for their concerns.
They wanted to know why money was being spent on the space program and foreign aid when there were problems at home that needed attention. Junior Stacy Betz, of Sunrise, wanted to know why more money couldn`t be found to give teachers a raise.
``I want to be a teacher, but teachers are telling me not to do it,`` Betz said.
The unifying theme for the students` concerns was the economy. Graham tried to explain how the students should work to help solve those problems, but he had trouble convincing many in the class.
``I expected more specific answers,`` said Jai Grewal, 16, of Davie.
Harris left the class as skeptical as she had begun it.