Inauguration -- Educational or Not?

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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).

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!

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.

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

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

So it is up to the individual teacher? Is that a school policy, or from the district?

For COD's sake, Tuesday is a Federal Holiday. Why are kids in school anyway?!!!

For COD's sake, Tuesday is a Federal Holiday. Why are kids in school anyway?!!!

The kids were out of school for winter break (way too long), then off Friday for teacher work day (which I don't understand why...), and will be off Monday for MLK day...

As far as District or School or teacher, not sure about that... although I would hope that all teachers that have it available will watch it. Any inauguration is an event that children should watch.

The kids were out of school for winter break (way too long), then off Friday for teacher work day (which I don't understand why...), and will be off Monday for MLK day...

As far as District or School or teacher, not sure about that... although I would hope that all teachers that have it available will watch it. Any inauguration is an event that children should watch.

Yes.

Though I've probably watched a few Inauguration speeches, and I've actually attended one, I don't recall any of them. Doesn't mean they weren't important, but I certainly don't think they changed the world, even though people will pull snip-its as powerful quotes.

I remember two lessons my third grade teacher taught --

The first was about the peaceful transition of power of the entire executive branch being one of the things that made our country great. We were taught to be proud to be Americans, because we were the first country to do this, and our system allowed for maximum change with minimal social upheaval. This culminated with a bunch of 8 year old Georgians (who'd been proud to have Carter as President) cheering for Ronald Reagan's swearing in.

The second lesson was the history of space vehicles. We learned how the great challenge for NASA had been to come up with a reusable vehicle. We learned all about the different rockets used previously, the landing on the moon. The lessons ended up with us going to the auditorium to watch the first space shuttle land in California.

The sense of watching history is a powerful one, and a good teacher can put it in context and make the experience even more powerful and memorable.

I hope every teacher will make the most of this rare opportunity to teach through history.

Jdarg, they are playing it and the teacher gets to choose what time to watch it or whether to watch it at all. It may be an individual school thing but I'm not sure. Second grade will be watching some of it.

I got to march in the '88 inaugural parade for George Bush as a member of the Troy State Band. It was an amazing event and is still one of my favorite memories. I think it is totally approptiate to interupt class and allow the students watch the events surrounding the change of presidents.

Since they're doing it as a school-wide assembly at my school, I'll be interested to see how the boys react to it. I'm sure that to some degree it will follow the normal pattern of assemblies, where the boys who are too cool for school will try to sleep, sneak their iPods out, etc. But I know that during an assembly before the election we had a debate, and a lot of the boys were pretty passionate about their political stance--I think most of our boys are from staunchly republican backgrounds (duh) but the ones who rooted for Obama were very vocal about it. Hopefully their passion (for either side of the aisle) will motivate them to be interested. I'm tempted to sit in the balcony so I can watch the boys watch.

........................................................................................................... The sense of watching history is a powerful one, and a good teacher can put it in context and make the experience even more powerful and memorable.

I hope every teacher will make the most of this rare opportunity to teach through history.

Anyone who believes that experiences can be teaching situations or ways to learn would be remiss not to take this opportunity for a great learning experience!


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Nobody who works during the day will get to watch it, so I fail to see what the hoopla is.

The "hoopla" is that our schools are supposed to educate our kids about current events, our government, and the history of our country.

Not showing the inauguration of our president to our schoolchildren is such a big WTF decision that I am speechless that it is even an option.

Yes, many Americans will have to work that day (as they do for many holidays), that doesn't mean it isn't an important day or a historic event.

The point of the hoopla is that there is a man of black African ancestry who won the Presidency. An amazing accomplishment considering the relative youth of this country and the disadvantages imposed on black people during the majority of that time. If there is another country on Earth that has come so far so quickly, I am at a loss to name that state. It makes me proud that the majority of voters judge their peers on their ideas and character instead of their last name, skin color or religion.

I remember watching both the first space shuttle liftoff and landing, as well as the Challenger disaster on TV. I remember the day Reagan was shot and the TV was rolled into our classroom. The same goes for the day the Pope was shot (Catholic school). I know my dad was at work and didn't watch any of that stuff as it happened, and that was his loss. I saw history. Our young people will be robbed if they don't get a chance to watch this event live as it will stay with them forever. It will be the stuff of history books long after we are gone.

Nobody who works during the day will get to watch it, so I fail to see what the hoopla is.

The point of the hoopla is that there is a man of black African ancestry who won the Presidency. An amazing accomplishment considering the relative youth of this country and the disadvantages imposed on black people during the majority of that time. If there is another country on Earth that has come so far so quickly, I am at a loss to name that state. It makes me proud that the majority of voters judge their peers on their ideas and character instead of their last name, skin color or religion.

I remember watching both the first space shuttle liftoff and landing, as well as the Challenger disaster on TV. I remember the day Reagan was shot and the TV was rolled into our classroom. The same goes for the day the Pope was shot (Catholic school). I know my dad was at work and didn't watch any of that stuff as it happened, and that was his loss. I saw history. Our young people will be robbed if they don't get a chance to watch this event live as it will stay with them forever. It will be the stuff of history books long after we are gone.

I remember watching some of these events as well, at school. It was hard watching the Challenger disaster. We were watching because a teacher was onboard. Something I'll never forget.

Watching the Inauguration should be mandatory at least in History class. :roll:

Independent of all the silly festivities that surround these things (bands, balls, and all that) the key part is the oath of office and Obama's speech. That happens between 11:00-11:15am. I would think it reasonable that students would be allowed out of class for that period and be given the opportunity to watch.

I agree with everything Skunky said above. Not only is this a special occasion for all the reasons he said, but it is also a special occasion because as President-elect Obama has said so often: "In no other country in the world is his story even possible".

To see a young man who grew up without a father; with a single mom who struggled to not only give him a good life, but help him understand the father who left him behind; to know how he struggled to find his place in the world; became educated through loans and scholarships; and made his place through all kinds of obstacles...to see this man have enough courage to believe in a better way for all of us...and for him to be willing to put his belief on the line to lead us all to a better country. How can all of that not be considered important for all the children in this country who so need to see hope; who need a role model; and who need to believe in the specialiness of America...how can that not be considered a special occasion regardless of anyone's poltical persuasion?

I just watched/listened to the HBO/NPR We are One concert on the Washington Mall...it brought tears to my eyes. If I had a child in school and he or she could not watch on Tuesday, I would take them out of school to make sure they saw it; if I did not work where I could see it myself, I would take a day off.

I am old enough to remember the day JFK was shot...our principal without any notice( and without getting permission, I'm sure) turned the PA system in our school on, and I will never forget the voice of my cousin (who worked at the local radio station) announcing that the president had been shot; I watched the Moon walk; the fall of Saigon....and so much more. I will never forget those times.

I believe we have a responsibility to our children to educate them in the way of our country; to show them that public service is an honorable service; and to share with them the magic that is our country.

Call me naive; I believe that we are living in a special time and every demonstration of hope should be cherished...I hope our children all have the opportunity to experience this historical event.