Comments on: Watching the Inauguration at School

By: Susan Nehama

Susan Nehama — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:03:41 +0000

This was absolutely historic – whether you liked Barak Obama or not. I was thrilled that my children watched it. My husband’s office set up 5 conference rooms to watch it – it is our jobs as adults to teach our children what is important.

By: harry b

harry b — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:52:05 +0000

Oh, I was kidding, really (about wishing that they’d study instead).

By: Gary Franceschini

Gary Franceschini — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:24:48 +0000

“I’d much sooner that they spent their time studying…”

What could they study that was more significant? We know – because the research gets repeated every few years to (re)prove it – that what the kids are studying in school has little application to their future lives. Inaugurations will materially affect the world in which the children live for at least four years. I for one would be very disappointed if they had not watched the inauguration, and I am disappointed to hear that it is the first time they have watched any inauguration.

By: sprite

sprite — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:29:16 +0000

My boyfriend teaches in an NYC high school; the entire school watched the inauguration in a special assembly. I’d never seen an inauguration myself until Tuesday; I watched it in a packed conference room at the office.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:23:31 +0000

I think there is a second option to consider. A teacher who effectively uses teachable moments to expand discussions and open horizons and minds is potentially more valuable than 30 to 60 minutes spent doing dry lesson plans. Depending on grade level, the inauguration could provide a healthy discussion of slavery/civil rights issues. On a more mature level the content of President Obama’s speech could be the touchstone for some fascinating current event and history discussions.

All depends on the teacher.

By: laura

laura — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:50:36 +0000

both my kids watched it at elementary schools. My six year old watched in the auditorium with the entire school and the teacher had it on all day in the classroom on a smart board.

By: Martin James

Martin James — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:47:04 +0000

Obama’s OK for a rookie but he’s no Brett Favre.

By: praisegod barebones

praisegod barebones — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:43:20 +0000

‘Friends Unversity’ : what a wonderful title for an institution….

By: Tom T.

Tom T. — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:49:31 +0000

Schools here in the Washington area were all shut down. Personally, I think American school children should watch the inaugural every time, for the civics value.

Just from the part where the government officials assemble, through the speech and the departure of the previous POTUS. Not all the hours of commentary about subway crowding and cold weather.

By: Gene O'Grady

Gene O'Grady — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:20:46 +0000

I remember that for Kennedy’s inauguration in 1960 we watched on what I believe were newly installed TV’s. I have to confess that what I mostly remember is Robert Frost fighting the glare. Which was probably pretty historic too.

By: matt mckeon

matt mckeon — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:41:32 +0000

Luther,
I guess they were both a little nervous.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:23:40 +0000

I remember watching the space shuttle take off when I was in 4th grade (born ‘79, so that would’ve been ‘88 or so?). Hell, we listened to the OJ verdict on the radio in high school, so the inauguration is a giant step up.

By: Tim B

Tim B — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:05:02 +0000

It was on all the TV screens in a coffee shop near where I work (in Vancouver, Canada), and people stopped their normal morning routines to watch (the inauguration and the speech). I’ve never seen Canadians do that for the Throne Speech, for any PM.

By: Lexy

Lexy — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:54:53 +0000

Most teachers at my school did NOT show the inauguration. I was outraged at this. I personally did get to see it- only by leaving one of my classes early and watching it in one of the classes that was actually showing it (this was not an open invitation to all; i just happened to know that teacher). Also, the actual swearing in took place during our 15 min break and teachers still refused to turn it on. Furthermore, it was the first day of the new semester so it’s not like it was even interrupting anything.

By: Vivian

Vivian — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:43:44 +0000

My second grader reported that they watched the inaugural in (regular, public) school, and that it was “good”. (No Favre reports, but this ain’t Wisconsin.) At work our IT wizard spent a couple of hours setting up the conference room to broadcast, and we watched, somewhat spellbound. Especially the 21-23 year olds who could just about remember the 2000 inaugural, but hadn’t seen anything in their primary/middle schools.