School Bells – Current Affairs – Grade 8 – Week 14
Writing to members of Congress about the high cost of medication.
Last week the eighth-grade students discussed their concerns about the high cost of drugs in the United States. In the process of researching this topic we discovered that there are some laws which hinder the lowering of prices. The class decided that this week they wanted to practice writing a letter to their elected United States Senators and Representatives. They and their families were going to discuss both what to say in these letters and the effectiveness of writing letters to our elected representatives.
Here comes the class now.
Me: Good morning class.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim! Cookies?
Me: Good try. As I recall we had cookies last week. If I have time I will bake some for next week.
How was your family discussions about writing Senators and Representatives to voice our concerns regarding the high cost of drugs?
Abdul: At first, once we found out the election results we were thinking that it would not do any good.
Will: Our family felt the same way.
Me: Are they still feeling the same way?
Abdul: No. Our family decided that no matter what we have to exercise our right to speak up.
Will: My family decided that we needed to keep focused on standing up for what is right. Even though we would like to see changes, the point is to speak up even if it seems as if it will not do any good.
Me: Is there a history of speaking up for years in this country about some issues even though it seemed as if nothing changed as a result?
Susie: Women have been speaking up about equal rights for a long time.
Will: Many people spoke up about school segregation and other racial issues for years before any real changes were made.
John: That is also true about rights for sexual orientation.
Me: Wow! I am again impressed with how well you and your families kept focused on the long-term goals and doing what seems right. That is very commendable.
Does everyone agree that it is important to speak out even if it seems as if nothing is going to change?
Class: Yes Mr. Jim.
Me: Great. I really believe that also. What is the first thing we need to know before we begin to write?
Tom: Do we write to the current people or the people who will take office in January?
Me: Great question. What do the rest of you think?
Paul: My family decided we should write both. Even the people who will no longer be a senator or representative will be talking to other people.
Me: Great point Paul. I agree. Does everyone else agree?
Class: Yes!
Me: That being the case, let’s put both lists on the white board. I was pretty sure you would want to do this. I copied down the names and addresses before class. Here they are.
Susie: What shall we say Mr. Jim?
Me: Perhaps more important is how we should say it. I do not think we want to write a critical letter. Does criticism usually bring about change?
Amena: We have talked about that before. Most of us do not change when we are criticized.
Me: That is certainly what I think all the research proves. So, if we are not going to criticize how shall we approach our concerns?
Class: With respect!
Me: Very good. Apparently you are getting to know me pretty well.
Class snickers!
Me: First of all here are the rules for addressing a member of Congress:
Envelope, official:
The Honorable (full name)
United States Senate or House of Representatives.
Full address
Letter salutation:
Dear Mr./Ms. (surname)
Signature
Respectfully,
Name
Address
Me: Are we going to write separate letters or one letter to each signed by everyone in the class?
Susie: I think it should be one letter to each. Then families can write their own letter if they want to.
Me: That sounds good. Does everyone agree?
Class; Yes Mr. Jim.
Me: Okay. What are the points we want to ask them to address?
Will: Do we have the list from last week Mr. Jim?
Me: Yes. I will pull it up.
(I posted the list of concerns from last week’s discussion. It includes:)
· Allow Medicare to negotiate prices of drugs and medical procedures.
· Insist that doctors be able to prescribe the drug which works best for patient If two drugs work the same the cheaper one would be prescribed.
· Insist that third-party pharmacy-benefit managers negotiate prices.
· Set limit on salaries for all employees of health care companies (pharmaceutical companies and health insurance companies).
· Reduce the patent time for drugs and medical devices and make it impossible to prolong patents based upon minor changes such as coating on pills.
· Change laws which limit the ability to keep price of generic drugs lower.
· List profit of health care companies –insurance and pharmacy manufacturers -to include amount of salaries over a certain amount.
· Limit profit margin of health care companies.
· Pay for cost of medical school and training.
Paul: That is really a long list. How shall we ask our representatives to consider these.
Me: What do members of the class think? How shall we start our letter to the honorable such and such person?
Ann: I have been working on this. How about:
“We, the eight-grade class, have been discussing our concerns about the high cost of medication. We think that the following issues need to be addressed by you and your colleagues in the U. S. Senate (or House of Representatives):
Me: That is great Ann. It is very respectful and gets right to the point. Do we want to say anything else?
John: Can we invite the persons to come to our class to discuss the issues with us?
Me: That is a great idea John.
Will: Can we create a Facebook page for our class and post the letter on our page?
Me: We could certainly ask if that would be permitted. Suppose we think about whether we want to consider doing that and, if we do, we draft a letter to the Principal asking permission. It may be that the superintendent will have to take it to the school board. Let me see what I can find out.
How about I type up and print out the letters and then bring them next week for everyone to sign?
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Me: Great job class. Pick up the assignment for next week on your way out. Have a good week.
Written November 16, 2016
Writing to members of Congress about the high cost of medication.
Last week the eighth-grade students discussed their concerns about the high cost of drugs in the United States. In the process of researching this topic we discovered that there are some laws which hinder the lowering of prices. The class decided that this week they wanted to practice writing a letter to their elected United States Senators and Representatives. They and their families were going to discuss both what to say in these letters and the effectiveness of writing letters to our elected representatives.
Here comes the class now.
Me: Good morning class.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim! Cookies?
Me: Good try. As I recall we had cookies last week. If I have time I will bake some for next week.
How was your family discussions about writing Senators and Representatives to voice our concerns regarding the high cost of drugs?
Abdul: At first, once we found out the election results we were thinking that it would not do any good.
Will: Our family felt the same way.
Me: Are they still feeling the same way?
Abdul: No. Our family decided that no matter what we have to exercise our right to speak up.
Will: My family decided that we needed to keep focused on standing up for what is right. Even though we would like to see changes, the point is to speak up even if it seems as if it will not do any good.
Me: Is there a history of speaking up for years in this country about some issues even though it seemed as if nothing changed as a result?
Susie: Women have been speaking up about equal rights for a long time.
Will: Many people spoke up about school segregation and other racial issues for years before any real changes were made.
John: That is also true about rights for sexual orientation.
Me: Wow! I am again impressed with how well you and your families kept focused on the long-term goals and doing what seems right. That is very commendable.
Does everyone agree that it is important to speak out even if it seems as if nothing is going to change?
Class: Yes Mr. Jim.
Me: Great. I really believe that also. What is the first thing we need to know before we begin to write?
Tom: Do we write to the current people or the people who will take office in January?
Me: Great question. What do the rest of you think?
Paul: My family decided we should write both. Even the people who will no longer be a senator or representative will be talking to other people.
Me: Great point Paul. I agree. Does everyone else agree?
Class: Yes!
Me: That being the case, let’s put both lists on the white board. I was pretty sure you would want to do this. I copied down the names and addresses before class. Here they are.
Susie: What shall we say Mr. Jim?
Me: Perhaps more important is how we should say it. I do not think we want to write a critical letter. Does criticism usually bring about change?
Amena: We have talked about that before. Most of us do not change when we are criticized.
Me: That is certainly what I think all the research proves. So, if we are not going to criticize how shall we approach our concerns?
Class: With respect!
Me: Very good. Apparently you are getting to know me pretty well.
Class snickers!
Me: First of all here are the rules for addressing a member of Congress:
Envelope, official:
The Honorable (full name)
United States Senate or House of Representatives.
Full address
Letter salutation:
Dear Mr./Ms. (surname)
Signature
Respectfully,
Name
Address
Me: Are we going to write separate letters or one letter to each signed by everyone in the class?
Susie: I think it should be one letter to each. Then families can write their own letter if they want to.
Me: That sounds good. Does everyone agree?
Class; Yes Mr. Jim.
Me: Okay. What are the points we want to ask them to address?
Will: Do we have the list from last week Mr. Jim?
Me: Yes. I will pull it up.
(I posted the list of concerns from last week’s discussion. It includes:)
· Allow Medicare to negotiate prices of drugs and medical procedures.
· Insist that doctors be able to prescribe the drug which works best for patient If two drugs work the same the cheaper one would be prescribed.
· Insist that third-party pharmacy-benefit managers negotiate prices.
· Set limit on salaries for all employees of health care companies (pharmaceutical companies and health insurance companies).
· Reduce the patent time for drugs and medical devices and make it impossible to prolong patents based upon minor changes such as coating on pills.
· Change laws which limit the ability to keep price of generic drugs lower.
· List profit of health care companies –insurance and pharmacy manufacturers -to include amount of salaries over a certain amount.
· Limit profit margin of health care companies.
· Pay for cost of medical school and training.
Paul: That is really a long list. How shall we ask our representatives to consider these.
Me: What do members of the class think? How shall we start our letter to the honorable such and such person?
Ann: I have been working on this. How about:
“We, the eight-grade class, have been discussing our concerns about the high cost of medication. We think that the following issues need to be addressed by you and your colleagues in the U. S. Senate (or House of Representatives):
Me: That is great Ann. It is very respectful and gets right to the point. Do we want to say anything else?
John: Can we invite the persons to come to our class to discuss the issues with us?
Me: That is a great idea John.
Will: Can we create a Facebook page for our class and post the letter on our page?
Me: We could certainly ask if that would be permitted. Suppose we think about whether we want to consider doing that and, if we do, we draft a letter to the Principal asking permission. It may be that the superintendent will have to take it to the school board. Let me see what I can find out.
How about I type up and print out the letters and then bring them next week for everyone to sign?
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Me: Great job class. Pick up the assignment for next week on your way out. Have a good week.
Written November 16, 2016
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