end of an era?i had the unique pleasure of experiencing Inauguration Day at school, with my 6th graders.
in retrospect, it was a better experience than if i had been alone in my apartment. something about the public school environment has a way of making tangible momentous occasions (9/11, Oklahoma City bombing, Columbine). maybe it is the atmospheric effect of all those pairs of eyes focusing on one thing at the same time. the sense of unity in experience among the disparate and disconnected.
a sample of my observations:
-homeroom, Brandon says, "i'm gonna be the first Latin-American President!" (aaww...)
-Orlando interjects, "i heard Obama's gonna turn the White House black!"
-while watching Inauguration in auditorium: quiet settles over the entire space (which NEVER happens!) then, at first sight of Obama, cheering swells over the students, i smile, chilled.
-moments later, the assistant principle blows 3 sharp blasts on her whistle, yells into the microphone to stop. too much of a good thing.
-was that stock footage of the Grand Canyon (during Aretha Franklin's song)? weird.
-tears welled up while contemplating this moment in history. soon ceased as i have to snap to, reprimanding a student for chewing gum and smacking a girl in the head.
Change may be coming to Washington, but things in School stay pretty much the same.
-stephan!e
1 comment:
you're absolutely right. i'll never forget 9/11 at henry clay. my inauguration day was spent much less memorably: listening on the radio in my car as i drove between jobs. i tivo'd it to watch later at home, but something to do with the DVR or the CNN HD channel was busted and all i got was scrambling. :'( ah well, there's always the internet!
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