Inauguration -- Educational or Not?

[rapunzel]

A few nights ago I was talking with some parents of children who attend Walton County Schools, and were disappointed that their children would not be watching the Inauguration at school on Tuesday.

The decision not to watch the Inauguration, based on fear some might complain that it is political, is a huge mistake. An inauguration of a democratically elected President is a patriotic event, not a political event. It seems to me that our schools are missing a huge opportunity to educate around this historic event.

From the New York Times,

?We are totally committed to reading, writing, science and history,? said Linda Lane, deputy superintendent of instruction in Pittsburgh. ?But we also know that some history doesn?t come out of a book. Some history you get to be part of.?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/education/16school.html?_r=1

Karen Rusche, principal of Our Lady of Lourdes, a Catholic school in Cincinnati, decided that the inaugural was of such historic import that her eighth graders would interrupt a spiritual retreat to watch it on TV.

?We don?t want to see it on a rerun,? Ms. Rusche said. ?We want to be witnesses to the historical moment.?

 

[Miss Kitty]

Wow...I think it should be required. History.

This is an excellent opportunity to tie in MLK Day and the Inauguration. Curriculum/lesson plans are buzzing in my head.

 

[NoHall]

Our school has a Character Education assembly every Tuesday at 1:30. Next week, we are rearranging the class schedule (and lunch, which is NEVER changed!) so that we can have Character Ed at 11 and watch the inauguration as a corps.

Keep in mind that I teach at a military academy in Georgia. We don't even get MLK day off. We're not exactly pro-democrat, but this is a historic event. I was glad to get that email from the principals--I think we all should watch it.

 

[Jdarg]

As one of the parents (;-)) I think my words may have been misunderstood. So before we have a riot at the high school, I said that we don't know if the inauguration will be shown or not. Of course, the sad part of this is not being able to assume that our kids will get to watch one of the most historical events that will happen in their lifetime.

I sent an e-mail to the SWHS principal asking if the students would be able to watch the inauguration. At the very least, maybe they can let students go to the media center and watch it there.

 

[momof2kids]

I don't know about other schools, however Butler will have the inauguration available to watch in all classrooms. My son's class will be having snacks & some fun patriotic goodies to go along with the mornings swearing in. I am looking forward to being in the classroom and sharing this event with him. Just wish that I could have both kids in the same room for it...

 

[GoodWitch58]

Good to hear about Butler.

Friday Governor Crist sent a letter to the Commissiosner of Education indicating that all public schools should be able to watch. I don't know that he can mandate the schools to do anything, I think that is a District issue, but he has indicated that he thinks it is a good idea:

Crist urges schools to let kids watch inauguration
By The Associated Press

Story Created: Jan 15, 2009 at 7:22 PM EST

Story Updated: Jan 15, 2009 at 7:22 PM EST

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Gov. Charlie Crist wants Florida's schools to let students watch the inauguration of Barack Obama as president.

The Republican governor wrote a letter Thursday to state Education Commissioner Eric Smith asking him to encourage schools to take a break from studies on Tuesday, when the Democratic president-elect takes the oath of office.

Crist wrote that it would further the students' civic education. He also noted the eyes of the world will be focused on Washington, D.C., as the nation's first black president is sworn in to complete a peaceful transition of power.


(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/files/2009_1_15_letter_to_commissioner_smith.pdf.


Certainly hope all our Walton County children are allowed to watch this historic event. We are watching it in my department at Gulf Coast Community College.

 

[Creeklover]

I would think this would be a school by school issue and with them having monday off i would think the teachers would love to let them watch this. But i think they should be more to it than letting them just watch it. The teachers should come up with some "work" and possible a test on this. It would show the kids watched it not just sit around and talked with friends or what every kids do in school today (Text message).

 

[Jdarg]

Thanks for the info everybody- this sounds hopeful. I was hoping for the best, with lots of doubt thrown in. Being in the "minority" party here, it has become almost automatic to be a doubter on things like this!

Tuesday is the first day of the new semester at SWHS- new classes, teachers, schedules, so I didn't want Will to miss school. Sounds like he won't have to, but I am going to call first thing Tuesday morning to make sure he will be able to watch inauguration.

If there are any SWHS teachers or admin reading this, maybe you can chime in!

 

[Beach Runner]

Wow...I think it should be required. History.

This is an excellent opportunity to tie in MLK Day and the Inauguration. Curriculum/lesson plans are buzzing in my head.

Exactly. I can think of many active learning experiences that the students could engage in and not just passively watch TV. Besides, the ADD kids would be clawing their eyeballs out without something structured to do.

 

[beachyteachy]

Bay will also have the option for the classes to watch.