Learning Center > Your Opinion Counts

Your Opinion Counts

In 1988, a group of students from Taputapu Elementary School, on the tiny island of American Samoa, were worried about their rain forest. They wanted the government of the United States to establish a National Park to protect the habitats of the many unusual plants and animals that live only in Samoa.

American Samoa is a territory of the United States. It is an island in the South Pacific Ocean near New Zealand. Even though American Samoa is about 4500 miles from Los Angeles, the people are represented by elected officials just like you are.

The Samoan children sent letters to President Reagan and U. S. Senators to ask them to vote to pass a bill (House Resolution 4818) to establish a National Park in their forest. Senators John McClure and J. Bennett Johnston sent the children’s letters to Congressman Robert Lagomarsino, who was the vice chairman of National Parks and Public Lands Committee in Congress, and he sent them to then President Ronald Reagan. Not long after receiving the letters from the children, President Reagan signed the bill, H.R. 4818, to make a law to establish a National Park on the island of American Samoa.

President Reagan received as many as four thousand letters a week from children during his administration. All of the letters were answered. President Reagan had a staff of five people to help answer those letters. Many times children who asked a question or needed information would receive a special illustrated newsletter or a booklet titled, "The President’s House," in reply to a letter.

Teacher’s Corresponding Lesson

Introduction: The students in American Samoa were concerned that unless the government of the United States established a National Park on the island that several species of plants and animals would be endangered. Their letters to Congressmen and the President may have influenced the outcome of the Bill to make a National Park in Samoa.

Objectives: Students will use problem solving skills to identify and state a problem, propose a solution and determine the person, office or agency best able to affect a solution to the problem. Students will write a letter, using proper letterform. Students will proofread their letters for content and accuracy.

Activity: Working in your group, discuss a problem in your school, community, state or country that may get worse unless action is taken.

State the problem:

____________________________________

Discuss and write three possible solutions:

1.___________________________________

2.___________________________________

3.___________________________________

What person, agency or office could best help solve the problem?

____________________________________

What will you ask them to do? (Be sure your solution is realistic and possible.)

____________________________________

Proper Letterform Guidelines

Heading
______________
______________
______________

Inside Address
____________
____________
____________

Salutation
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________

Body
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________

Complementary Closing
__________

Signature
__________

What to do: Compose a letter stating your problem and how you think it should be resolved. Include your reasons for being concerned and tell why the problem is of concern to your group. Each group member may write an individual letter or you may write one letter from your group and all sign it.

Your letter should use proper letter form. Address and mail your letter, don’t forget to include your return address so you can receive a reply.

How to contact your local officials: Please click here to view a list of local elected officials, or go to the main link on the homepage.

Learning Center > Your Opinion Counts Your Opinion Counts In 1988, a group of students from Taputapu Elementary School, on the tiny island of American Samoa, were worried about their rain forest. They wanted the government of the United States to establish a National Park to protect the habitats of the many unusual plants and animals that live only in Samoa. American Samoa is a territory of the United States. It is an island in the South Pacific Ocean near New Zealand. Even though American Samoa is about 4500 miles from Los Angeles, the people are represented by elected officials just like you are. The Samoan children sent letters to President Reagan and U. S. Senators to ask them to vote to pass a bill (House Resolution 4818) to establish a National Park in their forest. Senators John McClure and J. Bennett Johnston sent the children’s letters to Congressman Robert Lagomarsino, who was the vice chairman of National Parks and Public Lands Committee in Congress, and he sent them to then President Ronald Reagan. Not long after receiving the letters from the children, President Reagan signed the bill, H.R. 4818, to make a law to establish a National Park on the island of American Samoa. President Reagan received as many as four thousand letters a week from children during his administration. All of the letters were answered. President Reagan had a staff of five people to help answer those letters. Many times children who asked a question or needed information would receive a special illustrated newsletter or a booklet titled, "The President’s House," in reply to a letter. Teacher’s Corresponding Lesson Introduction: The students in American Samoa were concerned that unless the government of the United States established a National Park on the island that several species of plants and animals would be endangered. Their letters to Congressmen and the President may have influenced the outcome of the Bill to make a National Park in Samoa. Objectives: Students will use problem solving skills to identify and state a problem, propose a solution and determine the person, office or agency best able to affect a solution to the problem. Students will write a letter, using proper letterform. Students will proofread their letters for content and accuracy. Activity: Working in your group, discuss a problem in your school, community, state or country that may get worse unless action is taken. State the problem: ____________________________________ Discuss and write three possible solutions: 1.___________________________________ 2.___________________________________ 3.___________________________________ What person, agency or office could best help solve the problem? ____________________________________ What will you ask them to do? (Be sure your solution is realistic and possible.) ____________________________________ Proper Letterform Guidelines Heading ______________ ______________ ______________ Inside Address ____________ ____________ ____________ Salutation ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Body ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Complementary Closing __________ Signature __________ What to do: Compose a letter stating your problem and how you think it should be resolved. Include your reasons for being concerned and tell why the problem is of concern to your group. Each group member may write an individual letter or you may write one letter from your group and all sign it. Your letter should use proper letter form. Address and mail your letter, don’t forget to include your return address so you can receive a reply. How to contact your local officials: Please click here to view a list of local elected officials, or go to the main link on the homepage.