Biden responds to Livermore Falls student's letter about climate ... - Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel

Biden responds to Livermore Falls student’s letter about climate change

Wayne Elementary School student Cooper Stevenson, 9, displays Wednesday the letter he got back from The White House after writing to tell President Joe Biden about his idea of using robot pelicans to clean up garbage in the oceans. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

LIVERMORE FALLS — When asked by a teacher to write a persuasive letter to someone in his life, nine-year-old Cooper Stevenson took his concerns straight to the president of the United States — and got a response.

As a third grader at Wayne Elementary School last year, Cooper wrote to President Joe Biden about climate change and pitched a solution.

“My idea was pelican robots that can fly into the ocean and collect trash in their beaks and (let) the water leave through a drain pouch,” he said. He also offered to help clean up the ocean.

Cooper, who lives in Livermore Falls, said he became passionate about climate change because of his love for sea animals and pursued the topic on his own, outside of school. He chose to address his concerns to Biden because the president “likes the animals in the ocean” and Cooper “thought he could help.”

Recent research has shown the Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 97% of the world’s oceans, which is negatively impacting marine life.

The third grade persuasive writing unit challenges students to advocate for small changes, then explore big changes and what those could look like, said Beth Smith, Cooper’s former teacher.

Most students focus on changes within their homes or the school. Some students choose to write to the school nutrition staff about school lunch and others have written to teachers they have had, to celebrate them.

“They write letters to their parents and ask for puppies and video games,” Smith said. “I occasionally do have a student that wants to make a big change, and I encourage these students, just like with Cooper.”

Smith mailed the letter to the White House at the end of last school year, and Biden sent a response over the summer that Cooper received recently during the first week of fourth grade.

The president thanked Cooper for being passionate about climate change and outlined the steps his administration has taken to combat the problem, like using solar energy and trying to reduce pollution.

“It is important that you continue to use your voice to speak out on this issue,” the letter said. “Because of students like you, I am more confident than ever in our country’s ability to overcome any challenge we face. Always remember — when you make your voice heard, adults listen.”

Biden receives thousands of letters each day, but his administration has not posted information online about how many he reads or responds to.

Wayne Elementary School student Cooper Stevenson, 9, received this the letter from The White House after writing to tell President Joe Biden about his idea of using robot pelicans to clean up garbage in the oceans. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

In the past, the standard practice has been for the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence to screen letters, reply to some and pass along a sampling to the chief executive. Former president Barack Obama would read 10 a day, for instance, and sometimes send a personal response back.

The letters are seen as a way for the president to keep tabs on the issues that matter to Americans, including the country’s young students. Some administrations prioritize responding to kids, military veterans or other groups.

Since she has been teaching the unit, Smith said just one other student has received a reply from the president, when Donald Trump was in office.

Cooper said he didn’t expect to receive a note back.

“I was kind of surprised, and it felt very good,” he said.

His mother, Natalie Stevenson, had no idea Cooper had even drafted a letter.

“Both my husband and I are proud of him to think that and take the initiative to do that,” she said. “Neither of us knew he did that. I don’t know where the idea came from, but he was clearly thinking outside of the box.”

Cooper’s advice to people in central Maine who want to help with climate change is to pick up their trash, especially at the beach.

“They cannot leave their trash on the beach or environmental park because animals can get stuck or eat it.”

Wayne Elementary School is part of Readfield-based Regional School Unit 38.

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