Skelos teaches students how to make a law

It’s not a well kept secret that students don’t really like homework. And if it were up to the children of Willow Road School, a law would be passed against nightly school work.

State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) visited the school last week and gave grades 4-6 students that exact scenario. In discussing how the state Legislature creates a law, he decided to see if there would be much interest in eliminating homework. Students representing each class — just like senators and Assembly members represent each area of New York — came to the front of the room and gave their arguments for and against homework.

Finally, it was time to take a vote, and a majority of students voted to eliminate homework. But there was a catch — the law still had to get approved by the governor, or in this case, fifth-grade teacher Sharon Marrione. But she vetoed the bill, so homework will continue. “It’s too important,” she said.

Skelos said that after a law is vetoed by the governor, the legislature can override it with a two-thirds majority or seek a compromise. In this case, he said, a compromise could mean having no homework on Fridays.

In New York, there are 62 Senate districts, Skelos explained. He represents about 330,000 people. He said a typical Congressional representative has about 700,000 constituents.

Skelos explained how democracy works, and told students that they were lucky to live in a country where leaders are decided by elections. He ended his presentation by taking questions, including what he likes most and least about his job. The toughest part, he said, is being up in Albany and away from his family a lot.