Democracy in the classroom

Inauguration offers lessons on message, analysis for students

By Kate Hayden, khayden@charlescitypress.com

Many students gathering in classrooms on Friday don’t remember watching President Barack Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, they said.

But as Donald Trump transitioned from private businessman to President of the United States on Friday morning, Charles City High School students will be able to tell others what they were doing during the 2017 inauguration.

Classrooms live-streamed the event for students starting with the opening remarks. Some gathered in small groups just to observe what was happening in Washington D.C. At least one class of 10th graders were taking notes on assignment, picking apart Trump’s language and message during his inaugural address.

Charles City teacher Steve McGrew watched the inauguration with 13 of his sociology students. While waiting for Trump to take the oath of office, McGrew said he wanted students to get a perspective on how presidents operate at inaugurations.

“Usually, they’ll come up with a speech that will try to unite the nation. With all the divide you hear about the Trump era, so to speak, it’ll be interesting to see how he tries to show that he’s … a president for everybody,” McGrew, who also teaches government and economics classes, said.

In the high school library, American Humanities sophomores had their notebooks handy as Trump approached the podium. Students were mostly silent as he spoke.

“They’re focusing on the different points that Trump’s making, working on building up their ability to cite direct lines as they express their thinking on different subjects, and also looking at how the tone he sets impacts them and what they think the future will hold based on the speech he gives right now,” teacher Rob Pittman told the Press.

The assignment combined the two disciplines of American Humanities: English language and composition skills, as well as social studies concepts of citizenship and critical thinking/predictions.

Jackson Molstead found reoccurring themes of restoration and confidence in Trump’s address. It was a message Molstead had been hoping to hear, he said.

“Trump was very confident and strong. He talked about how America’s really going to shine,” Molstead said. “I want him to actually do what he said, and follow through with what he said.”

“He said he’ll ‘never, ever let us down,'” Caitlyn Stoneburner said. “I don’t know how to explain it, but he’s already let me down, and that just stuck out to me.”

Students were also pulled out specific imagery that Trump used. For her assignment, Abbie Wilts pulled out Trump quotes like “Think big and dream bigger,” and a reference to “rusted-out factories scattered across our nation.”

“Even though he’s unliked by many people, the hopes are high for him, I guess you could say,” Wilts said. “Just hoping –– because he is our president –– he’ll stick to his word and do what he says, and kind of prove that these things about him aren’t true.”

“(He made it seem) like we were losing the meaning of America,” student Isaiah Ortiola said. “I didn’t really agree with it, but I can see where he’s going, like how the government didn’t make the choices of the people.”

As Trump begins his first 100 days in office, he’ll have many supporters and critics watching his every action. For many high school students, though, they are still waiting to witness how a new leader will work for them.

“I think I should just watch and see,” Ortiola said.

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