Their names will most likely never be recorded in the history books they use everyday, but Oxford Elementary teachers Barbara Johnston and Shanie Williams will never forget they were there when the United States? first black president officially took office.
‘I’m a history buff and I know the historical significance of this,? Johnston said. ‘To have an African-American (in the White House) is just amazing considering how not that long ago many of them didn’t have the right to own homes or get loans for businesses. It shows me that we’ve come a long way and we can aspire to something higher.?
Next week, when President-Elect Barack Obama is sworn in as the nation’s 44th Commander-in-Chief, Johnston and Williams will be watching it in Washington D.C. thanks to U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Brighton).
Johnston wrote Rogers, along with U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, and requested tickets for the inauguration.
‘I was turned down by everybody except Mike Rogers,? she said. ‘I’m just shocked I got this opportunity considering Mike is a Republican and usually when I’m writing letters (to him) it’s from my point of view of how I think he should vote on certain issues. I kinda felt like maybe I was a thorn in his side.?
With her husband unable to go, Johnston invited Williams, a fellow Obama supporter.
‘This is the first time I’ve voted for a president that I really believe in,? Williams said. ‘It really makes me feel involved.?
For a longtime political junkie like Johnston, who wrote to President Richard Nixon about the environment while in elementary school and grew up next door to civil rights activists, going to the inauguration represents the ultimate high.
‘To be there for a presidential inauguration is the chance of a lifetime no matter who’s elected,? she said. ‘It’s important to me to be there and actually see it. To me, as an American, this is it.?
And it doesn’t hurt that her candidate won.
‘I like the way he conducted his campaign and the way he’s conducted himself,? Johnston said. ‘He just seems like he’s very presidential, very classy.?
Johnston is particularly excited about Obama’s strong stance on education.
‘It’s my belief that for this country to be strong we need an educated electorate, which is why I wanted to be a teacher,? she said.
Johnston likes Obama’s ideas regarding merit pay, standardized testing and fixing the problems with the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
‘In the past, teachers unions have really been against this idea of merit pay, where you get paid (extra) based on how well the students do in your classroom,? she said.
Johnston agrees that merit pay is a good way to recognize the efforts of successful teachers and retain their services, while encouraging others who may not be as well-suited for the profession to seek other career opportunities.
‘I think it might really help education because if they know their pay is riding on it, it will get some teachers to come up with more creative lessons to inspire students,? she said.
As far as standardized testing, Johnston likes Obama’s idea of measuring students? progress according to tests taken at both the beginning and end of each school year rather than having one ‘high stakes? test that offers a ‘snapshot? on one particular day.
Like most Americans, Williams hopes Obama can turn around this deepening economic decline.
‘I really feel in my heart that he can honestly change it,? she said. ‘I really hope he puts what he stands for into action. I think he will.?
While in Washington D.C., Johnston plans to visit a number of famous sites recommended by her fourth-graders and take pictures to show the class. ‘I’m going to try to get to that as much as I can,? she said.
She also plans to deliver letters from her students to Congressman Rogers regarding issues they’re concerned about and things they feel he should be working on for Michigan.