Children Meet the Library

Excitement abounded this afternoon as the children were introduced to our new library. This is one of those cases in which the pictures say more than words, so I will leave it there . . .

Experiencing the Inauguration

I had the pleasure of watching the Inauguration with our third grade class earlier today and to share in their experience of this monumental event. The children sat quietly, eating their lunches and watching the arrival of dignitaries on the podium. As Mrs. Obama entered carrying the Lincoln Bible, the television was muted so that we could hear a brief report from Troy. After learning last week about the significance of the Lincoln Bible, the class had wondered which presidents had sworn their oath on the Bible first used by George Washington. According to Troy's research, they were Warren Harding, Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush.

Throughout the building, the rest of the classes had gathered with teachers and administrators, often two or three grades together, to witness this moment. The second grade then returned to their room to enjoy the apple pies they had made this morning with apples contributed by each student. They had learned about simile on Friday with "As American as apple pie," and today they got to enjoy the symbol for themselves!

Back in T. Claire's room, the third grade marked the inauguration of the first African American president by singing Amazing Grace. This spiritual is known to many, but you may not know that it was written in 1772 by John Newton, a former slave trader turned minister. It is one of several songs that the third graders learn through their study of the Abolition Movement and Underground Railroad. It is not lost on them that descendants of slaves took up residence today in our nation's executive mansion - a house built with slave labor.

Perhaps the most moving part of the Inauguration for me was Elizabeth Alexander's reading of her poem, Praise Song for the Day. In words that are accessible to children and adults alike, she conveys images of both the history that has led to this moment as well as the reality of our lives today, and invokes a sense of limitless possibility. As a former history teacher, it seems to me that those are the elements of every good lesson.

Quakerism This Month (November-January)

Before looking at Quakerism this month, I need to do a little bit of catch-up . . .

In November and December, our focus was on the testimony of Simplicity. This theme was chosen specifically because the holidays can be a challenging time to maintain simplicity in our lives. During worship sharing, students pondered this query: "What is a simple gift that you could give?" As a lead-up, classes read an excerpt from "Christmas Day in the Morning," by Pearl S. Buck, a story about a fifteen year old boy who lives on a farm and wakes up extra early on Christmas morning to milk the cows alone - giving his father a special and simple gift. During Meeting for Singing, just before we began the holiday vacation, T. John treated us to a rendition of "Christmas in the Trenches," by John McCutcheon, which tells the true story of a truce on Christmas Eve, 1914, when Germans and Brits celebrated together.

Now, in the month of January, we are focusing on Service. This Thursday, students will work together in pairs to create posters illustrated their thoughts about service and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. These posters will be displayed for our Hickman neighbors to enjoy. When we gather in the meeting house for silent worship, we will also sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and "We Shall Overcome." This is often a very moving experience for me, as the entire school encircles the meeting room holding hands.

This coming Monday, school will be closed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. It is also the Martin Luther King Day of Service. If your family is interested in finding a service activity to join over the weekend or on Monday, try the Find a Volunteer Opportunity page on the Day of Service site.