Lincoln Elementary Fourth Graders Interview Gov. Burgum

For many students, this was the first time they ever met the governor

FARGO, N.D. — The fourth grade at Lincoln Elementary in Fargo aren’t your average students. They’re reporters in the making.

More than 60 of them spent the past few weeks brainstorming questions they could ask Gov. Doug Burgum during his visit to their school.

“How long have you been governor for? Does he like his job or not,” said Ari Greenberg, a fourth grader.

“Did you live in North Dakota when you were a kid? And if there was any law you could change, what would it be,” said Maggie Carlson, a fourth grader.

Burgum says these curious interviewers certainly left a lasting impression.

“We’ve got to keep that curiosity alive in our young people because in a world where you can look up every answer and every question, it’s more about knowing what questions to ask and asking the questions that have never been asked before so I loved seeing the power of curiosity in the room,” Burgum said.

The kids even brought up some old memories for the governor.

“Asking me about my parents or asking me about growing up in Arthur, those are all bringing back fun memories for me thinking about being in Mrs. Olson’s class out in Arthur,” Burgum said.

Every fourth grader at Lincoln Elementary used to go on a day trip to Bismarck and to get know their North Dakota roots.

Since the school stopped doing the trip two years ago, Nancy Greenberg thought it would be a good idea to bring Bismarck to Fargo by inviting Gov. Burgum during the kids’ civics unit.

“Fourth grade, you’re just sort of really learning about it. It’s not a hot topic I’m sure on the playground but it should get them a little more excited about North Dakota and what our governor does in his terrific job,” she said.

And it seems to be working.

Some students say they may consider getting into politics someday because of the feeling they got when they first saw Burgum.

“My heart was beating and I don’t know why. It was really fun to meet the governor,” said Reanna Quiah, a fourth grader.

One of the students who asked Gov. Burgum a question is related to his high school football coach.

That coach is someone Burgum says he really admires especially when he helped him get over the death of his dad in high school.