Teachers Speak Out About Obama Inauguration

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

22 Jan 2009 11:51 AM

As I mentioned in a previous blog, thousands of public and private school teachers around the country allowed their students to put down their books on Tuesday to watch history being made. When Barack Obama took the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States new surveys estimate that more than two million students tuned in to see it live.

In fact, Barack Obama's inauguration was one for the TV ratings history books.

Nielsen Media Research just released its latest numbers for Inauguration Day viewership. According to Nielsen, 37.8 million viewers watched Obama become this nation's first African-American president -- the most in recent decades.

Obama's audience was reportedly bigger than any presidential inauguration in nearly 30 years. According to Nielsen, Obama's total viewership was 27% higher than Bill Clinton's audience in 1993 and 30% larger than George Bush's in 2001. However, Ronald Reagan's first inauguration in 1981 drew a larger viewership with 41.8 million.

Once the swearing-in ceremony was complete teachers say they spent the rest of the school day discussing the momentous occasion. A number of educators noted that they used Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. flub as discussion point. Roberts made headlines Tuesday when he misplaced the adverb "faithfully" and Obama mimicked him. (Incidentally, the two men successfully repeated the oath of office ceremony last night without incident.)

An elementary school teacher in Obama's boyhood home of Honolulu, Hawaii told local news reporters that there is a great deal of curriculum she is behind on because she devoted so much time to Inauguration Day events. However, because of Tuesday's historic significance, she doesn't regret her decision to amend her lesson plan.

Other educators say they came up with creative assignments about what the inauguration means to the nation and the world. An 8th grade teacher in New York had his students work on an essay inspired by Obama's speech and had them list ideas for improving the country.

What did your children's teachers do to mark Inauguration Day?

Related Articles:

Schools Using Obama Inauguration as Teaching Tool

Parents Making the Most of Obama Inauguration

What are you teaching on Inauguration day?

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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