Eighth-graders at Seymour Middle School received the chance to ask their congressman questions Monday during a convocation.

Ninth District Congressman Trey Hollingsworth, a Republican from Jeffersonville who was re-elected to a second term in November, paid a visit to the school to take questions from students in U.S. government classes.

About 20 students of the 325 or so in attendance were able to ask questions, ranging from Hollingsworth’s thoughts on President Donald Trump’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to his ideas on how to prevent bullying and school violence.

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Students also asked Hollingsworth why there wasn’t a debate last fall for his re-election bid, whether he was concerned about the national debt, his opinion on the government shutdown, interactions with the president and more.

Marlo Cornn, 14, asked Hollingsworth what he liked about his recent tour of Centerstone’s re-entry and recovery program at the Jackson County Jail.

Cornn’s teacher, Clay Schepman, said he encouraged students to do some research before they asked their questions and provided them with some websites.

Cornn found a website where Hollingsworth had toured the jail and became curious about his thoughts on the tour.

“The program is about second chances, and I just wanted to know what he liked about seeing it and meeting with people,” she said.

Cornn said she appreciated the opportunity her teachers gave her to ask a question of a sitting congressman.

“It was pretty cool because not many people got to do it today,” she said.

Hollingsworth said it was an “unbelievable experience” to see the program at work and meet with officials about it.

“Every American has the opportunity to create their better future no matter what mistakes they made or made at one time, but once they pay their debt to society, we should enable and empower them just like every other American,” he said.

Eighth-grader Grace Lewis said she felt the nation was very divided and wanted to know what could be done to unify it.

“We have to understand people come from all sorts of different backgrounds and people of all sorts of different viewpoints, so we have to make sure we understand those different viewpoints and we never demonize a person even if we disagree with them,” he said.

Hollingsworth said he has met people who have much different views than his own, but he acknowledges they only want what’s best for the country. That approach could be helpful in bridging the divide.

“We should never question their motives as a person, and I think it’s important we raise the standard of our dialogue,” he said.

Eighth-grader Reace Sheffield said the school recently completed an exercise about school safety and wanted to know Hollingsworth’s thoughts on how schools should approach bullying and school safety.

Hollingsworth said he thought it was an important exercise and that people of all ages share the same concern. He said there is legislation that could provide resources to help.

“We should make sure that we give more and more resources to help individuals to not only get through some of the most challenges aspects of their lives, but also making sure we help individuals reach their full potential,” he said. “Ultimately, this country is about you being able to reach your full potential, being able to do all the things you know you can do.”

Paul Montgomery asked Hollingsworth why there was not a debate for Indiana’s Ninth District race this past fall. Hollingsworth faced a challenge from Bloomington Democrat Liz Watson during the midterm election.

Hollingsworth said the candidates could not come to an agreement on the rules of the debate.

“I think there were misaligned interests between the opponents on what the point of a debate is supposed to be,” he said. “I always believed ultimately, you should know where candidates stand on every issue.”

Hollingsworth said despite the lack of a debate, he could point to his record of more than 1,000 votes during his first term on a variety of issues.

After the session was over, Hollingsworth said he is always encouraged about the future of the country when he speaks with students. He said he thinks people are wrong when they paint a broad brush that young people do not care.

“Any time you’re pessimistic in D.C. about the future of the country, go and listen to the great questions from youth,” he said. “I think this whole stereotype of younger Americans not taking up the challenges is all a myth, and you see that when you come to schools like this.”

Hollingsworth said he does similar events throughout the district, including two this past week. He said his thoughts on such events are to get kids’ ideas, find out what they’re passionate about and let them feel someone in Congress is considering their opinions.

“I think they sometimes feel their government doesn’t serve them, but only adult taxpayers,” he said. “That’s not how government should be, but should be about serving all Americans, and I want to make sure we continue to do that by listening to their questions.”

Principal J.B. Royer said the students’ social studies teachers, Chris Kleber, Tyler Pray and Schepman, asked students to submit questions. The teachers grouped similar questions together and then selected the ones who would ask.

Royer said he was proud of the way students engaged with Hollingsworth in the session.

“I thought the kids did a great job, and I think they did well and showed interest,” he said.

Hollingsworth also met with local business leaders during his visit Monday.