Congressman John Shimkus, of Collinsville, recently returned to his old high school and, for a short time, his old profession.
Congressman John Shimkus addresses a class at Collinsville High School on March 17, 2014 / Photo by Roger Starkey
Shimkus, a 1976 Collinsville High School graduate, spoke to Mark Schusky’s Economics class Monday. The former Metro East Lutheran High School teacher taught the students some basic economic principals, and briefly reminisced about walking the halls of CHS wearing silk shirts and plaid, bellbottom pants.
Supply and demand, maximizing shareholder wealth and how government involvement can affect both highlighted the congressman’s lesson plan. Minimum wage, a subject of much recent debate as some seek to increase the federal rate to $10.10 per hour, does not have to part of the student’s future, Shimkus said.
“Do you know how you can get out if? an education,” Shimkus said. “If you don’t graduate from school, you’re stuck in this world forever; and you’re complaining to politicians to raise your wage.”
Shimkus appearance at CHS was part of the Capitol Hill Stock Market Game Challenge. In the game, teams of students manage an investment portfolio, competing against teams from other schools and a local congressman to have the highest valued portfolio.
The game was not discussed during Shimkus’ visit to CHS, but Schusky said the chance to compete against a congressman increases the students’ interest in the game.
“Not many people can say they beat their local congressman, so that helps motivate them, gets them to track their investments and guide their decision making even more closely,” Schusky said.
When the lesson was complete, Shimkus asked the class if they had any questions. When initially greeted with silence, Shimkus let the class know that he had no problem continuing the economics lesson until the end of the period.
“I used to go bell to bell; I can do it,” Shimkus.
The threat, perhaps, elicited a question about how the current situation in Crimea and the Ukraine should be handled. Europe needs to stay strong and a path to NATO membership needs to be offered to the Ukraine, Shimkus said.
Shimkus also warned that the maneuverings of Russian President Vladimir Putin to retake Crimea for Russia helped Putin in the eyes of nationalist, and will encouraging him to repeat the act.
Sophomore Hanna Liljegren got a pass so she could attend the class and hear from the congressman. “It’s cool to hear first-hand from someone in government about what is going on,” Liljegren said.
