Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting my representative, Congressman Kevin Yoder from the 3rd district in Kansas, and a few members of his staff. To begin with, Rep. Yoder was extremely kind to take the time to meet with me. It is a testament to our representative government that he and his staff went out of their way to get to know my interests, hear about my experience in D.C. this summer, and offer to help and connect me in any way they could. I was impressed with the level of concern both for me as an individual and for my area. Sitting in a Congressional office makes you realize how intensely focused a Congressman must be on the needs of his or her district, requiring everything from reflecting their constituents’ policy interests to meeting with individual students who are spending the summer in the Capitol.
Coming away from the meeting, however, I couldn’t help reflecting on the unique landscape of my district and how that relates to education and Rep. Yoder. The 3rd district encompasses Kansas City, the largest urban area in the state, and the surrounding suburbs. Consequently, a representative of the area has to balance the often contrasting needs of an urban area and a more affluent suburban area. Nowhere is this more evident than in education.
Comparing Johnson County and Wyandotte County gives a clear picture of the contradictory nature of the district. Wyandotte County, where Kansas City, KS is located, has an annual per capita income of $17,750 and large minority populations. The Kansas City School District, where 89% of students are classified as “economically disadvantaged” on their website, has often received negative attention for low achievement- the high-school graduation rate was just 62% in the 2011 school year. The reality in next-door Johnson County
