Students watch history unfold in classroom

By Anne Lautzenheiser
St. Tammany News
Published on Friday, February 6, 2009 9:03 AM CST

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Televisions were wheeled into classrooms across the parish on Inauguration Day so students could watch Barack Obama be sworn in as the nation’s 44th president and the first African-American to do so.

At Abney Elementary School in Slidell, Jessica Flores welcomed parents and other family members into her fourth-grade class to watch the historic event. Many recited the Lord’s Prayer along with pastor Rick Warren, and clapped as Sen. Dianne Feinstein welcomed everyone to the inauguration.

All clapped and cheered wildly as Chief Justice John Roberts finished administering the oath of office.

Parents joined students in Jessica Flores'�� fourth-grade class at Abney Elementary School in Slidell to watch the inauguration of President Barack Obama. The event wrapped up weeks of study on the presidency and the election process. (Staff Photo by Anne Lautzenheiser)

Though the students were dismissed for lunch midway through President Obama’s inaugural address, several stayed behind to hear what the country’s new leader had to say.

“I like him, I think he knows what will make the world better,” said Luis Garcia, 11.

Ultra Fredericks came to watch the broadcast with her son, Jeremy Ordogne, and said the 9-year-old understands the importance of the event. When she recently began reading Obama’s book, “The Audacity of Hope,” the youngster decided to take on “Yes We Can,” a detailed account of his presidential campaign.

Nathan Lang, 11, viewed the ceremony with his grandfather, Harvey Bollinger, who said the first presidential inauguration he remembered was that of Harry Truman in 1945.

“I spent 37 years in education, and I still love being in the classroom with the kids,” said Bollinger. “I wasn’t going to miss sharing this moment with him.”

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