The American government instructor has encouraged students to write to their U.S. senators and representatives inviting them to visit THS and tell the senior class about their work in Washington, D.C.

Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, has visited in the past and did so again last week. Jenkins, the current representative for Kansas’ 2nd District, spoke to both juniors and seniors at the Tonganoxie Performing Arts Center.

School officials stressed to Jenkins that the discussion with students should be educational and not a campaign visit. Jenkins will face Democratic challenger Britani Potter, an Ottawa school board member, next month in the general election.

Jenkins stayed on scrip for the most part, telling students how she became a U.S. House member, who and how many are elected to the House and Senate from Kansas. She mentioned fellow House members by name, aside from Tim Huelskamp, who lost his Republican primary race in the 1st District to challenger Roger Marshall in August.

Students had several questions for Jenkins, including for whom she planned to vote in the presidential election.

THS principal Mark Farrar stepped in to redirect the conversation, though Jenkins steered away herself, noting that she endorsed former Republican candidate Carley Fiorina.

Students asked several questions after the debate, including her role in the educational funding fight in Kansas that drew some threats of public schools not being able to open for the current school year. That was avoided, but Jenkins also let students know that wasn’t a federal issue and would be a better question for legislators at the Statehouse.

Asked whether she favored trickle-down economics, Jenkins said she preferred an opposite approach in finding ways to get those at lower economic levels on their feet and being bigger players in the economy.

Jenkins answered THS senior Savanah Reynolds’ letter for the THS invite. The two also had meet in person at an event. And, fellow THS senior Paige Friday got in touch with Jenkins through Leavenworth County Commissioner Dennis Bixby, R-Tonganoxie, according to Gilner. Reynolds introduced Jenkins before her talk last week.

Others have spoken to THS seniors, including former U.S. representatives Jim Ryun and Nancy Boyda, Gilner said. He noted that he felt the letter-writing was a more hands-on real-world approach than doing mock government exercises.

And, he would welcome any other legislators or their opponents to speak to his class. All politicians would be welcome.

“If someone wrote a letter to Hillary Clinton ‘hey, could you come to Tonganoxie?’ and Donald wanted to do the same thing, come on,” Gilner said.