Franklin
Obama responds to Jay boy’s letters
Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal
Max Dayson, 8, left, and his brother, Rico Gortmans, 15, both of Jay, hold the letters Dayson received back from President Barack Obama. Dayson wrote to the president first to congratulate him for being the first black president and second to voice concerns over teacher cuts. His brother helped him.
Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal
Max Dayson, 8, holds a letter he received from President Barack Obama. Dayson with the help of his brother, Rico Gortmans, 15, both of Jay, wrote to the president over concerns about teacher cuts.
He wrote to President Barack Obama.
It was the second letter he had written to Obama with the help of his older brother, Rico Gortmans, 15.
Dayson is a third-grader at the Jay Elementary School. Gortmans is a freshman at Jay High School.
The first letter Dayson wrote was in February to say hello.
"I wanted to write to the president because he was the first black president," Dayson said. He received a reply in June thanking him for writing.
In his second letter he wrote in May, he shared his concerns.
"The schools were cutting all the teachers and I need them to learn," Dayson said Monday as he and his brother sat at the table in their kitchen.
The boys' mother, Heidi Dayson, said she never saw either of the letters they wrote because she was working.
Her husband, Rob Dayson, knew about the letters.
"I suggested for the second letter that he get his attention," the elder Dayson said.
His son did just that. He stapled a small, school picture to the letter so the president would know who he is.
Gortmans found the address to The White House for his brother, helped fix spelling mistakes, and mailed the letter.
Max Dayson took the first letter dated in June, out of a large envelope Monday. It was on White House stationary with an embossed seal. It came with cardboard backing it and was addressed "Dear Student."
Then he reached into a long, regular envelope and pulled out the second letter. It was on the same stationary with the seal and dated Sept. 29.
But this time the paper was tri-folded to fit in the envelope and was addressed "Dear Max."
"It's nice that he wrote back," Dayson said, before he read the letter out loud.
The president thanked him for writing to him about the tough times he was facing.
"I appreciate you sharing your story with me. As a young man, I too faced difficult moments," Obama wrote. "Like many young Americans I found hope and support in my family and community.
"Overcoming adversity is a test we all face, and it is often helpful to reach out to family, teachers, clergy and others we respect for guidance and assistance."
The president ensured Dayson he is "working hard to make our communities and homes better for all Americans."
"I think he was listening to me because he knew what to write back," Dayson said.
"I thought it was pretty cool that he wrote back, not that I didn't expect him to," Gortmans said.
The family moved to Maine several years ago from San Diego, Calif. They have lived in Jay four years.
"Max was worried about who was going to lose their jobs," his mother said.
"I was concerned leaving the middle school," Gortmans said. "I heard a lot of my teachers were getting cut."
The decrease in staff was eased some by a federal stimulus funding package.
The brothers are proud that Obama is the first black president.
"He's inspired me that I could do anything I want when I grow up," Dayson said. His brother concurred.
Dayson is planning to write more letters.
He'll be writing U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, next.
"I'm going to ask her if I can go to the White House," he said.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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Displaying comments, from newest to oldest
Hey Guys - Great Job on
Hey Guys - Great Job on being concerned young adults. We need more kids like you. Being interested in what is happening in our society and trying to make a difference by standing up for what you feel needs to be addressed is terrific. Don't give up - keep up the good work. You will be our future politicians!
I'm very proud of my
I'm very proud of my nephews!!! At least Max had the courage to personally write to the president with his concerns instead of hiding anonymously behind a screen name complaining. This article is about an 8yr old writing to the president and getting a response and all you do is make it about Obama's presidency. If you think all the problems America has is because of the few months Obama has been president, then you really are ignorant!!!
I think that it is fuuny
I think that it is fuuny reading what others have to say... because they are putting down these kids because they wrote to the pres. but i seem to think that they are just jealous because their kids arent that smart... and wouldnt want to be reconized for something this big to them it was important.. and for you to put them down should be ashamed because if you have time to be on here and down kids then you prob should find a job and get off welfare....
I do not understand why
I do not understand why everyone has to be so negative. This is a young man who saw that a change is needed and is taking the appropriate steps to get his opinion out there. I say kuddos to him and his brother for helping him with the letter. There is no need to "shut him down" by saying these responses are sent hundreds at a time by the presidents staff. We as adults know this, but a child does not. Let him be a child and just encourage him to continue his efforts. I agrre with town clown, Maybe he will be president someday. I am certain this is not the last we will hear from this young man!
It's nice that the boys have
It's nice that the boys have written to the President. Too bad it's for all the wrong reasons. The Federal government has no Constitutional right to have any involvement in education.
With the state of our educational system today it's no wonder they don't know that.
Teachers have told children at least since the 60's that mean people were going to cut their budgets and fire teachers. They were lying then and they're lying now.
verified You know, this is a nice
You know, this is a nice POSITIVE article about children actually DOING something constructive with their time, and helping eachother out. If you can't say something nice, why don't you just turn off your damn computer and crawl under your desk with the rest of the crud??
Well now. That was
Well now. That was certainly "nice."
These kids are really cute
These kids are really cute and good for them for writing the president. Even if you don't like the pres. , it was really nice of him to write back to the kids. Good for them!
Chippy, sorry to burst your
Chippy, sorry to burst your bubble but that really wasn't the Tooth Fairy that left the quarter under your pillow.
fixit001 I am truly offended
fixit001 I am truly offended by your comment and it should be removed.
We are offended that you are
We are offended that you are offended! Please remove yourself from the planet.
My dearest apologies, good
My dearest apologies, good sir, but I must kindly ask you to speak for yourself.
Your other option being to GTFO--
THE CHOICE IS YOURS.
_________________________________________
DEATH WON'T EVEN BE STILL
IT CAROMS OVER THE LANDFILL...
verified take your own advice, you
take your own advice, you won't be missed!
I'm glad the kids are
I'm glad the kids are excited about political issues but these types of responsive form letters are signed and sent by staff by the hundreds every day.
Cute kids! Continue to
Cute kids! Continue to study hard and you will go far in life! :)
Wow, who would have thought
Wow, who would have thought it, with Barry winning the Peace prize, putting our country into debt, the War on Terror, etc. he actually found the time to personally reply to his letter.Oh my , he is truly the best.
A young boy sees a kind
A young boy sees a kind action, and you only care about what's wrong...
Have a little joy for the kid.
_________________________________________
DEATH WON'T EVEN BE STILL
IT CAROMS OVER THE LANDFILL...
I child wanting a better
I child wanting a better future and all you have to comment about is whether or not he is an immigrant to the US. I know these children personally and I find this so offensive. This is two great boys who want a better future for themselves and the community that my family lived in. Great job Max and Congrats to Rob & Heidi for rasing such smart boys!
If this isn't a veiled
If this isn't a veiled racist comment I don't know what is.
Well take off your darn hood
Well take off your darn hood then!
Keep an eye on this lad as
Keep an eye on this lad as he grows. He's not only a thinker, but a do'er as well. Something tells me we'll be hearing of him again down the road.
Dude are you for real?
Dude are you for real?
Oh c'mon Hulk! Where's your
Oh c'mon Hulk! Where's your Obama spirit!? He MUST truly be a leader of ALL nations when he can personally *snicker* respond to a letter from an 8-year-old boy about his fear of teachers losing their jobs in his school. All hail the mighty Obama! He TRULY is the best thing since popped corn!
verified Not certain about that, but
Not certain about that, but EVERYONE has to admit that he is much, much better than the last guy who held the Presidency.
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verified on "P. Nachman: Confidence probably misplaced"
Ronald, I do rail about debt
Ronald,
I do rail about debt growth, but the intention of this thread was to show Alan how the government is currently overarching its span of control. That is, how successful (or unsuccessful) the government manages its programs.
My healthcare arguments have never supported the current cost structure. My healthcare arguments have more to do with oBamaCare being the wrong solution, and in general, government controlled healthcare being the wrong solution. Anyhow, that is a topic for another day.
verified on "Maine eyes $21 million in multistate suit against mortgage lenders"
George Bush in September 2008
when the stock market started crashing is the one who bailed the banks out by creating TARP in October 2008. During that fateful week of September 2008, a half a TRILLION dollars was taken out of the money markets (offshore? Must have been because to this day no one has been arrested for the electronic run on the banks that day!) in 90 minutes. The Federal Reserve pushed $180 BILLION dollars onto the market to stave off a total collapse. It worked temporarily, but then Bush said it was time to bail the banks out. He created a $753 BILLION dollar TARP (protects ya from the bad weather!) bailout and before he left office, he took $353 billion and gave it out to the Big Banks without strings attached. The Big Banks went wild with their new found money! In fact, after Obama won in November 2008, the Big Banks were on a high again and when Obama in early 2009 after being sworn in started adding strings to the bailout money, that's when the republicans of the nation started calling him a big meaning to the banks.
Guess how much Bush's TARP has cost Americans so far? $7 TRILLION DOLLARS. Had George Bush decided to give every single American who filed a tax return in 2007 a $50,000 check, our nation would have flourished and he would have been a hero leaving his presidency, but he didn't do that. Sad.
verified on "P. Nachman: Confidence probably misplaced"
Irresponsible Tax Cuts
Grow the size of debt and interest payments - Exactly what you are railing against.
Your insurance (mob) based health care is costing you about twice the percentage of GDP than a national health care system is.
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