As I watch the presidential election tonight on television I am reminded of a day in the classroom almost four years ago.
DON'T WORRY!
THIS STORY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHICH SIDE YOU ARE ON OR WHO YOU VOTED FOR!!
On January 20, 2009 Barack Obama was inaugurated as President of the United States. At that time, I was student teaching in fifth grade at an elementary school in Laguna Niguel. We arranged for the fifth graders to watch the inauguration on the big screen in the Multi-Purpose Room.
We sat and watched...And watched...And watched...
Honestly, I don't remember much of it, but what I do remember is something I will never forget.
To my surprise, the students were so engrossed in the historical event, they did what the live audience did at the inauguration. Almost anytime the audience gave a standing ovation, our fifth graders stood and applauded. When the audience was asked to stand, our fifth graders stood. When the audience applauded, so did our students. And when the audience stood, took their hats off, put their hands over their hearts and sang the national anthem or a patriotic song, our fifth graders did the very same thing.
The incredible thing is, these 10 year olds participated on their own!
We NEVER told them to take part in what was happening on the TV. We NEVER asked them to stand, applaud, sing the songs, etc. We only told them to sit quietly and watch. Yet, us teachers SAT there and watched our fifth graders VOLUNTARILY, and without hesitation, participate as if they were a part of the live audience. They were fully engrossed in that historical event which is still so incredible regardless of who was becoming our president.
It still amazes me when I think about it.
Those fifth graders are now in ninth grade!
Gosh, this makes me feel old!
