The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Facing the Music: San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer addresses Booksin Elementary students Caitlin Cheney, Lorraine Rowan and Kelly Dowd, who are merely biding their time before asking a slew of questions.

Booksin gets political as the mayor comes to class

Hammer faces youthful inquiry about San Jose government 'secrets'

By Christine M. Lias

It's not every day that a politician makes a visit to an elementary school class to talk about local politics and city government.

On the morning of March 12, however, San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer traveled to speak to a dozen or so fourth- and fifth-graders at Booksin Elementary School. She explained in great detail the workings of the city and future challenges. The students in Peter Hurd's San Jose civics course listened attentively, eyes riveted on a political celebrity who many had never before seen.

"San Jose is a diverse city," said the mayor. "I work extremely hard to make sure that local government is everyone's government."

Hammer began with an overview of San Jose demographics and geography, then talked about the role of the mayor and the City Council. And she discussed future challenges the city will face, such as airport expansion, zoning and the conflict over the county's water treatment plant and the environment.

Then the kids were ready for her with a slew of questions.

The civics course is part of the school's Gifted and Talented Education Program. A five-parent committee oversees Booksin's GATE program, which is a special curriculum of science, math, art, social studies and language arts for gifted elementary students.

Past courses in the GATE program have included Egyptian culture, chess and stamp collecting, as well as the civics course.

"Can you tell us any top secrets that you couldn't tell anyone in the past but can tell now?" a blond-haired student asked Hammer.

Hammer chuckled to herself and then became serious. "Every day I know stuff that can't be told," she said.

Another student wanted to know what Hammer does on her time off.

Hammer explained that she works very hard, often on the weekends, but does manage to slip in a movie or tennis match with her husband, Phil, every so often.

"Were you always interested in politics?" a teacher asked.

Hammer said she was involved in student government in high school and had even thought about a career in foreign relations before meeting her husband at UC-Berkeley.

The two moved to Washington to work with then-President John F. Kennedy. Hammer was a member of the first Peace Corps staff employed by Kennedy. She told the students about marching with Martin Luther King Jr. and listening to the famed "I have a dream" speech in August 1963.

"I guess I'm an idealist," Hammer said. "I believe that one person can make a difference, and a whole lot of people can make a huge, huge difference."

After Kennedy's assassination, the Hammers moved to San Jose, where Phil had found a job. Hammer took on the role of housewife and raised three children.

Hammer first thrust herself into politics when she ran for an open San Jose City Council seat in 1982. She has served two terms as mayor of Northern California's largest city and will not run again because of term limits.

"It was never something really planned, but it seemed natural with my interest in politics," Hammer said. "It will have been a very good 1612 years when it ends in December."

Teacher Hurd said he had wanted the mayor to speak to his class last year but was unable get Hammer to come. This year, he couldn't have been more pleased.

"I think she did a wonderful job, and I'm really proud of the kids and how well-behaved they were," Hurd said.

Hurd and Hammer's husband are friends. Hammer had also known Hurd in the early 1980s when she was a member of the San Jose City Council.

Other speakers in the days to come include San Jose Fire Department Capt. Walter Bugna and Deputy Chief Tom Wheatly of the San Jose Police Department.

"I think the San Jose civics class makes children more aware of the environment around them," Hurd said about the class's raison d'etre.

One Booksin teacher watched Hammer's presentation intently and eagerly went to shake hands with her afterward.

"I think she did an outstanding job and really spoke at [the students'] level," said the teacher, who declined to give her name.

"She was very down to earth and really inspired the children to do community service."

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