Our New President - 4th grade perspective!

So - our country has once again stepped into history with the election of Barak O' Bama as President. I have to admit I did not watch the inauguration on Tuesday - not because I am bitter or nervous but rather because I was involved with a bible study at church and - historical it may be - I did not believe it warranted an absence at while studying God's word. Anyways, because it was a Tuesday I was not at school with my 4th graders. Wednesday I came to school completely oblivious to the fact that we had a new President - it took my 4th graders to remind me and because it was a historic occasion I decided that we should probably discuss and have a conversation about it. What I heard from them was quite interesting!! I want to remind you before I list their comments that I teach in a very conservative small town and the students of mine were (no doubt) mimicking what they had heard at home from the mouths of their parents. However, in the small mind of a 10 year old how construed the facts can come across. Here is a few of the comments that they made - some humorous, some wise, some hateful and some - well, you'll see:

Question that I asked: "So, what do you think of our new President? What do you think he's going to do for our country?

- " I heard that he is going to change the Pledge of Allegiance"

- " He is going to make all guns illegal"

- "I don't think we will be able to go on field trips anymore"

- "He is going to take the troops out of Iraq"

- "I heard that he is going to make it illegal to have paintball fights in your backyard." To this I responded with a little giggle (couldn't help myself) In response to this comment one of my boys piped up and said, "well, then maybe he will let us have them in the front yard." (after this comment it was a full blown laugh) - too cute!

- "He is making gas prices go down" - pretty impressive for someone who has been in office for 1 day.

New Question: What advice would you give to our new President as he leads this country?

- "My advice to him would be, 'He should back out and let McCain be President'" - someone's parents are a little bitter

- "He should leave the troops in Iraq - they have the right to be free as much as we do."

- "He should really think about abortion before he makes it legal."

- "He needs to work on memorizing his speeches - if he is President than he should be able to memorize. I had to do it and I'm only in the 4th grade."

- "I would tell him not to mess with the Constitution - it's there for a reason."

- "I would ask him if he could let us go to school for only 4 days a week."

- "I would tell him that he needs to salute the flag."

- "I would tell him to only do good things."

- "I would tell him that if he says he is going to do something - then he better do it."

- " He needs to be honest - always!"

It was rather interesting listening to them discuss. They were wiser than I thought and I hope they grow up with the view that a President should do and be everything that they hope President O'Bama to be. There is still hope for our future I think.