Students hopeful for glimpse of history
WHS staff encouraged to tune in with students WORTHINGTON — Worthington High School Principal Paul Karelis sent an e-mail to all staff members, letting them know that today’s events are considered America’s history at its best — and that everyone should be watching as Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.By: Justine Wettschreck, Worthington Daily Globe
- Barack and Michelle Obama
WORTHINGTON — Worthington High School Principal Paul Karelis sent an e-mail to all staff members, letting them know that today’s events are considered America’s history at its best — and that everyone should be watching as Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.
“It is important that students and staff have the opportunity to see exactly what is going to happen,” Karelis stated Monday. “The dialogue this will create is by far one of the more important things that will happen in the turnover of a new presidency.”
The inaugural theme, “A New Birth of Freedom,” commemorates the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Stirring words from the Gettysburg Address expressed Lincoln’s hope that the sacrifice of those who died to preserve the United States would lead to “a new birth of freedom” for the nation. The theme was chosen by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies in consultation with the Senate Historian’s Office.
“I think this is an important part of history and the kids need the opportunity to witness it,” Karelis explained. “The speeches that take place — they need to hear all of those kinds of things. And the parade. The music program is interested in seeing what that part looks like.”
Other schools are leaving it up to the individual teachers, including Murray County Central (MCC).
“We’ll leave it up to the classroom teachers to see how it figures into their curriculums,” said MCC Superintendent and High School Principal Steve Jones, adding that inauguration day happens to fall on the first day of the new semester.
Over at Windom Area High School (WAHS), the classrooms are in the middle of finals week, so it will be up to each classroom teacher to decide if the events in Washington fall in with their testing schedules. The students from WAHS may have a special interest in watching the festivities — they could be trying to catch a glimpse of a friend or two.
“We have a group of 25 students there,” said WAHS Principal Eric Hanson. “They will be watching it from out on the mall, along with 2 million others.”
In the classroom, he explained, some classes might turn on the TV if it doesn’t interfere with the testing, but the set in the office will be tuned in all day.
Tags: news, barackobama, barack, obama, inauguration, whs, worthingtonhighschool, mcc, murraycountycentral, windomarea
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