• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Kids offer words of praise, advice for Obama

JANESVILLE — Tariq Mason smiled broadly Monday when asked about today's events in Washington, D.C.

It's important to him that Barack Obama will become the first African American president, the fifth-grader said, "because I'm African American."

Many children across the country will watch the events in Washington, D.C., on TV in school today. Tariq and others at Jackson School will be among them.

"It's very news-breaking," fourth-grader John Jones said of Obama's historic first.

Fourth-grader Ebony Brooks said she admired Barack Obama for having the courage to run in the face of the racism of people who might not want him to be president.

The Janesville Gazette talked to a handful of Jackson School students and asked what they would advise the new president.

Their comments showed a grasp of the major issues of the day. Here are some of them:

-- "Try to help the economy, because we need money, plus GM closed," John said.

Those economic factors will depress local house prices, which is not a good thing, said John, who said he learned his economics from his parents.

-- "He should stop relying on the Middle East for oil because we have to pay to get it shipped over here, and that raises our gas prices," Tariq suggested.

-- "I would want him to open all the factories that have closed," said fifth-grader Megan McGuire.

Megan said her father lost his job at Lear Corp. after the local General Motors plant ceased production of SUVs.

Her father is going to school at Blackhawk Technical College, Megan said, but she'd like him to have his job back.

Obama could also work to lower prices at the grocery store, Megan said.

-- "I think he should help kids in foster care and kids up for adoption," said Ebony, who worried that such children don't have parents and could be out on the street.

"They need help. They need a real family," she said.

-- "I would ask him if he could try to get everybody out of the war in Iraq and try to stop global warming," said third-grader Cerena Cass.

Cerena thought helping people hold onto their homes and have money for food was important, too. Perhaps lowering taxes would help them, she said.

But the war is No. 1 on Cerena's priorities. That's because she had an uncle who served in Iraq.

Her uncle came home safe, but it would be hard for families to cope if their loved ones died in the war, she said.