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FeedObama Inauguration is a Mother-Son Experience
A Diablo editor shares historic moment with her 10-year-old son.
Martha Ross
Like a number of other parents, I wanted to be with my child on this historic morning to watch Barack Obama be sworn in as our nation’s 44th president. I considered staying home from work—and keeping my 10-year-old son home from school—to watch the live coverage, but then his teacher at Parkmead Elementary in Walnut Creek informed parents that the kids would be watching the inauguration live in their fifth-grade classroom. The teacher, furthermore, invited the parents to join the kids in watching the ceremony.
And that’s where I was this morning, in my son’s classroom. School at Parkmead starts at 8:15 a.m. but the kids were already poking their way into the classroom at 8 a.m. Their teacher, Lisa Levinthal, already had the TV turned on to one of the cable news channels. Several kids stood to watch various dignitaries make their way down the steps to the inaugural stage in front of the U.S. Capitol. When former President Bill Clinton, and his wife, Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton, arrived, my son, Ian, chanted: “Hillary! Hillary!”
Once the bell rang at 8:15, the kids took their seats and raised their eyes to the TV screen. Lisa was somewhat surprised that they were so quiet and intent on watching. She had planned an activity to keep these rather energetic fifth-graders occupied until the actual swearing in of new Vice President Joe Biden and of Obama. The activity was to ask the kids to write a paragraph about their hopes for the future of the country, regardless of any political affiliation.
But the diversion wasn’t necessary. The kids’ eyes were focused on the TV.
“Can we turn the lights down?” my son asked. He and some other kids wanted to turn the classroom into a mini-movie theater, watching the ceremony in the dark, like young movie-goers at the newest Pixar animated feature.
When Malia and Sasha Obama, stylishly attired in their blue and pink coats, respctively, came down the steps to their seats on the stage, the kids were riveted. “How old is she?” one boy asked about Malia, and was surprised to hear that this very tall, elegant looking girl, was his age.
When Obama’s named was announced, and he came striding out the door of the Capitol and down the steps, the kids heard the chants rising in the crowds surrounding the stage. “Obama! Obama!” The kids joined in this spontaneous chorus, while one of my son’s classmates, Kevin, pumped his fist as he, too, chanted “Obama! Obama!”
The kids made it through Saddleback Church founder Rick Warren’s invocation, and several expressed delight when it was announced that Aretha “Queen of Soul” Franklin would sing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.” “Is she still alive?” asked one boy. “She looks beautiful!” said another girl, as Franklin, wearing a gray coat and hat, with extra large bow on top, raised her voice to sing.
All on their own, the kids stood when Dianne Feinstein, the U.S. senator from California and presiding over the ceremony, asked everyone to stand for the swearing-in of, first, Joe Biden, and then of Barack Obama. The kids broke into especially hearty applause when Obama stepped forward to take his oath of office.
“Obama! Obama!” The kids chanted some more, when Feinstein presented the 44th president of the United States to deliver his inaugural address to the billions watching, in Washington DC, around the world, and in this classroom in Walnut Creek, California.
A few of the kids started to shift in their seats during Obama’s 18-minute speech, which was marked by a sobering assessment of where America stands in the world but a hopeful vision of how we Americans can meet the challenges of the future. But most of the kids watched in rapt attention.
After the ceremony ended, Lisa told the kids to go run a couple laps to release some pent-up energy. After their return, some shared their thoughts about being able to watch the inauguration in their classroom and of listening to Obama’s speech:
Brent: “I liked how Obama kept talking about the economy. It was interesting.”
Garrett: “That was really cool, wasn’t it? It was just, like, historical. When people are 60, they’ll remember it.”
Ashley: “We can tell our grandchildren!”
Luigi: “I hope Obama does good things in helping the country.”
A.J.: “History in the making!”
As A.J. said: History in the making. And I felt so fortunate to have been able to witness it with my son and his classmates.
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Posted at 01:26 PM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink
Reader Comments:
It was great to see and hear our kids' reactions to this moment in history...truly a "Where were you when?" moment. Their attention was focused, attitudes positive, and enthusiasm almost tangible. AND they loved the celebration treats! A fine day.....
This is so great that this teacher did this and that you covered it. And to hear that the kids were genuinely excited about this historic event.
I read that some school districts in the South were requiring parents to sign permission slips for their children to watch because it is seen as liberal indoctrination for schools there to applaud Obama
I can state that the intention of the teacher and of the principal was to have the kids witness what both liberals and conservatives deem as a historical inauguration and one of the marvels of our system--the peaceful transition of power through democratic elections every four years.
If some of the kids expressed excitement about seeing this major news event of all our lifetimes, or of witnessing Barack Obama in particular take his oath, that came from them, not from any prompting of the teacher, the principal or the parents.
Martha Ross
Associate Editor
"Liberal indoctrination."
Someone has been drinking too much of the far-right Kool-Aid.
Seriously, in my household, we supported Senator John McCain, but I kept my kids home from school this morning to watch the swearing in. Its history, even if it's not the candidate I supported. With the country in the shape its in, we need to pull together, not get into all these back and forth accusations about "liberal indoctrination."
My husband and I don't agree with the new president on a lot of things but he's tried to "cross the aisles" and looked for help from people like Senator McCain. For better for worse, he's our commander in chief and we have to support him to the best of our capabilities.
Today's inaguration made me proud to be an American even if the new president isn't the man we would have chosen.
I'm proud to be an American
I'm proud that Barack Obama is president
I'm proud that teachers are educating our kids about what democracy means by having them watch this.
My daughter's teacher did this too at a different school. Good for her and good for this teacher and this school.
I also voted for McCain-Palin but was happy that my son, who lives outside DC, took our grandson into the city to be part of this. My grandson will always remember this.
It's history, plain and simple, like the boy the writer quoted.
A friend said no one would be that excited if McCain was elected. I agree, and I'm not sure Mr. Obama has what it takes to meet the current national crisis.
But that's besides the point about whether my grandson should attend the inaguration or kids in my town should watch it on TV at school. Kids shouldn't live in a bubble.
I was also able to be in the classroom with my son to watch this historic event. It was heart-warming to see 5th graders intently watching, and commenting on the event. While they may not grasp all the significance of the event I am sure that it is something that they will remember as they go through their lives and reflect on. Thank You Parkmead for letting me share this time with my son.
They "made it through" Rick Warren's prayer? As if it was a painful experience.
I know Warren was controversial, and I don't agree with some of his views. I thought some of the things he said were nice and uplifting, but he seemed to enjoy his moment in the spotlight a bit too much, and his speech could have taken some trimming. We wanted to get onto the main event.