Ruby Bridges Talks to Scholastic News

by Madison Hartke-Weber

 One of the best interviews that I’ve have done so far as a Scholastic Kid Reporter is with Ruby Bridges. I got to interview her at the Inaugural Fest on Martin Luther King Day, the day before the Inauguration. Part of what made this interview so exciting was that she was actually a part of history and I learned about her in school when I was in second grade. Kids in my school have recently done reports about her part in the integration of the New Orleans public schools. She was at the Fest signing copies of her book Through My Eyes. There was a long line of people waiting to meet her and I had to wait over three hours until she could talk with me.

 
Ms. Bridges gave an outstanding interview. All of the answers she gave were very thoughtful and meaningful. She answered each question slowly and included details from her own life. She also gave a whole new perspective to the Inauguration, incorporating her own childhood experiences into the election of Barack Obama. This was a very memorable experience and I’ll never forget it.
See Madison's full article about Ruby Bridges here.
(Photo: Author Ruby Bridges with Scholastic Kid Reporter Madison Harke-Weber. Photo courtesy Madison Hartke-Weber.)

A Day of Service Before the Ceremony

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and a National Day of Service. In Washington, D.C., which is preparing for the swearing in of the 44th President of the United States, it was an additional day of celebration. Kid Reporter Christiana Dillard spent Monday morning at a Service Nation event at Ballou High School in South East Washington. She heard a panel discussion that featured California First Lady Maria Shriver, as well as short speeches by Ashton Kusher and Demi Moore, Hill Harper, Toby Maguire, and civil rights leader John Lewis. She spoke one-on-one with Maguire and Harper.

Actor Toby Maguire is best know for his role as Spiderman in the blockbuster super hero movies. He is also, however, Chair of the ServiceNation Ambassadors Council. Christi asked him why ServiceNation is so important to him.

"I believe that service can help," he said. "I feel there is a great need in our country right now and in the world. Service can help boost in a lot of different areas."

During the program, Maguire's remarks followed those of Representative John Lewis of Georgia. Maguire was so emotional after hearing Lewis talk about his Civil Rights experiences in the 1960s that he could hardly speak. He choked back his words and had to take a few minutes before beginning. Christi asked him why he was so moved.

"They were amazing words. They were moving words," he said. "He’s an amazing man and it was great to hear him."

Lewis gave a passiionate speech about his involvement in the 1961 March on Washington lead by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., It was the year King gave his famous "I have a dream" speech. Lewis pointed out that it was also the year Barack Obama was born and the year President John F. Kennedy first took the oath of office. He talked about the need for people to speak out about injustice and to become involved in bringing about positive change.

"Do what you can, what you must to make our country what it should be," he said. Lewis reminded the crowd of about 500 that he was arrested 40 times during the civil rights movement.

After the event, Hill Harper, one of the stars of CSI: NY, and an author, talked to Christi about his friendship with the President-elect. The two attended Harvard Law School together. They have been friends for more than 20 years.

"To see your friend ascend to the level of president is wonderful," he said. He then talked about national service. "Today is a day of national service," he said, "which to me is one of the most important days because it is a day of giving back to the community. No matter how young or old you are, every student, every person can make a difference and make change and give back. We need to let folks know how valuable and important service is. We're encouraging people to do that."

To prove the commitment, everyone, including Harper and some of the other celebrities, marched a block to Simon Elementary School to paint classrooms.

PHOTO: Christi Dillard and actor Hill Harper at Ballou High School in Washington, D.C., on Monday, January 19, 2008. Photo by Suzanne Freeman

Inauguration Kickoff

Around 300,000 people gathered for a free concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial today to kickoff inaugural festivities in Washington D.C. President-elect Obama and his family were on stage while performers such as Bono, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and Beyonce performed. Only the speeches were televised live. HBO bought the rights to the performances. You can see them tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on HBO cable network.

I was standing with the crowd around the reflecting pool, watching on the Jumbotrons. I sent minute-by-minute reports to Twitter as each celebrity took the stage -- at least until the very end when my cell phone battery went dead just as Beyonce was closing the event with the National Anthem.

Here's a recap of my Twitters:

2:37 p.m. It's cold at the Lincoln Memorial. President-elect Barack Obama is being introduced now. People are climbing trees and throwing beach balls. The beach balls all have Obama's name on them! Ellen and Stevie Wonder are waiting on the sidelines with Obamas and Bidens.

The theme of the program is "We Are One." After the national anthem, Denzel Washington took the stage to ear piercing screams.

Bruce Springsteen is the first act. The Boss! He is only one of the big names due to perform here. This is so exciting! Martin Luther King III just spoke and now Mary J. Blige is leading a sing-a-long of "Lean on Me."

Jamie Foxx is doing an impersonation of Barack Obama, which is getting lots of applause. There's some mic feedback, but we can still hear. The crowd is shouting, "Change is coming! Change is coming!" Now Tom Hanks is talking about Abe Lincoln while some very dramatic music plays.

Vice-President Elect Joe Biden is speaking now. The crowd is chanting, "Joe, Joe, Joe!"

The crowd is now dancing and really having a great time to the song "Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie!" The energy just keeps growing. Usher was his fine self! Followed by Stevie Wonder who has the crowd really singing and dancing.

3:41 p.m. President-elect Obama is sitting on the stage with his family. Whenever the camera shows him on the big screens, the crowd cheers!

The artists are having just as much fun as we are out in the audience. Shakira and Steve Wonder are kidding with each other on stage. Bono from U2 is performing now. He's an international rock star and humanitarian.

4:01 Obama is speaking now! It will take years to meet all the challenges this nation faces, he said. Despite that he is as hopeful as ever. "Directly in front of us is a pool that reflects the dream of a king," he said referring to a speech Martin Luther King gave in same spot. The crowd has gone silent with the powerfulness of Obama's words. Flags are flapping and snapping in the cold wind.

"The dreams of our founders will be carried out," he said, in his very brief message. He will become President in less than 44 hours.

Jumbotrons line the National Mall and the reflecting pool as thousands and thousands and thousands listen to Obama speak.

4:20 p.m. As Obama finishes his speech, the crowd is beginning to chant his name.

People are now beginning to leave the area as the a band plays "This Land is Your Land."

4:30 p.m. Beyonce ended it all with the National Anthem, sung among cheers and shouts of joy!

Next stop for me: MTV Be The Change Breakfast on Monday morning. Check back for my report and pictures.

Photo: Bruce Springsteen sings "The Rising" in front of a choir during "We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

—Christiana Dillard

Chicago Mayor Daley Talks to SN

By Jimmy Pitenis

Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago, Illinois, stood at a booth that had a big sign that read "Chicago's Olympic Bid 2016." I approached him and introduced myself. As an avid golfer, I mentioned to him that I would like to see golf added to the Olympics by the time the 2016 Summer Olympic Games take place. The Mayor thought that would be a great idea, but will wait to hear from the Olympic Committee first.

Scholastic's Tyler Reed then walked me and my Mom to the Inauguration Fest just a few blocks away. I really liked it! I saw a replica of Air Force One, a replica of the Oval Office, and other presidential memorabilia.

Later my Mom and I walked toward the Lincoln Memorial to the inauguration kickoff concert. Big names like Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, John Mellancamp, Usher, and many more were scheduled to perform. And other notables like Denzel Washington, Queen Latifa, Tiger Woods, and others were scheduled to speak at this 3-hour outdoor concert. The 30 degree weather didn't deter the hundreds of thousands (perhaps a million!) people from coming out to be at this great event! We stayed for about 1 hour before the crowds became too big. 

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Jimmy Pitenis of Florida with Chicago Maroy Richard Daley at the National Conference for Mayors in Washington, D.C., two days before the inauguraiton. (Photo courtesy Jimmy Pitenis)

The Color of Money for U.S. Mayors is Sunshine Yellow!

Green equals solar energy equals the color of money and economic recovery. So says some of the 250 mayors at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. this weekend. I spoke to some of those majors just two days before President-elect Barack Obama is scheduled to take the oath of office and become the 44th President of the United States. The Mayors are holding an annual meeting here with a few extra perks this time around: more than usual media attention and a chance to see history.

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, who is head of the conference, took full advantage of the increased media attention to talk about issues of importance to his city and the nation. Like other mayors speaking at the conference, he focused on the economic crisis and how helping the environment can also help the country recover from recession.

“All cities are having a tough time right now,” Mayor Diaz told me today. “In Florida we are dependent on real estate, and the housing market has taken a real dive. As a government we have tightened our belts significantly.

Although the conference ends tomorrow, Mayor Diaz is sticking around to see Obama take the oath of office on Tuesday.

“It is just an incredible experience to see the peaceful transfer of power in the greatest democracy in the world,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what your party affiliation is, it is about the American democratic experiment and how it continues to work.”

Mayor Diaz is an independent. I asked him if his state is now a Blue, or Democratic, state since it voted for Democratic candidate Barack Obama. In the last two presidential elections, Florida citizens gave a majority of their votes to President George W. Bush, making it a Red (Republican) state.

“Red or blue, I don’t know,” he said. “Politics changes a lot.”

Next stop on my agenda: the Presidential Inaugural Fest!

Photo: Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and Kid Reporter Jimmy Pitenis

—Jimmy Pitenis       

Inauguration Coverage Begins!

It’s the Superbowl of politics: The Presidential Inauguration.

The theme of this year’s inauguration, “A New Birth of Freedom,” commemorates the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The theme is especially appropriate because this year, the first African American will take the oath of office. Barack Obama will make history when he becomes the 44th President around 12 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20.

Several members of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps are now in Washington, D.C., covering events including the inaugural kickoff at the Lincoln Memorial Sunday afternoon and the Volunteer ball Monday night.

Check back often for the latest news!

It’s the Superbowl of politics: The Presidential Inauguration.

The theme of this year’s inauguration, “A New Birth of Freedom,” commemorates the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The theme is especially appropriate because this year, the first African American will take the oath of office. Barack Obama will make history when he becomes the 44th President around 12 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20.

Several members of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps are now in Washington, D.C., covering events including the inaugural kickoff at the Lincoln Memorial Sunday afternoon and the Volunteer ball Monday night.

Check back often for the latest news!

Election Night Frenzy

By Jack Greenberg

Election Night in America was exciting for everyone, including the media! Myself, along with four other Kid Press Corps member, were reporting live from Scholastic News headquarters in New York City.  We were blogging, twittering, and watching the returns come in so we could write breaking news stories for Scholastic News Online.

I started the day interviewing Naomi Koran, Senior Producer of NBC News.  She assigns all NBC correspondents to the locations where they cover the news.  Another reporter was on the ice rink doing a video report of the election night map being frozen onto the surface. Another reporter interviewed NBC correspondent Rehema Ellis about voter turnout and behavior.

Later, when we arrived at Scholastic headquarters, the Kid Reporter team  got down to business, covering not only a historical presidential election, but also other historical results.

News broke that Sen. Elizabeth Dole lost her re-election bid in North Carolina, ending a long run of either a Bush or Dole in elected office.  But, there was still some information missing. How long had it been since a Dole or Bush was in an elected position in America? 

We dove into research the old-fashion way; turning to Scholastic Headquarters’ Library team. Hard work to find a good source and precise information paid off. We learned that either a Bush or Dole has been serving in elected office for the last 52 years. That ends on January 20, 2009 when President George W. Bush steps down at the end of his second term in office.

There was pressure all around. When one reporter blogged, another reporter twittered. Yet another reporter was writing the lead story for the Web site, while others worked on their NBC reporting pieces.  Scholastic editors moderated blog comments and edited stories from other Kid Reporters around the nation reporting in the polling places in their communities. Two Kid Reporters attending the Obama Election Night Party in Chicago, Illinois, were calling reports every half hour to Editor Suzanne Freeman, who was posting blog reports as quickly as she could. Other editors, even the Math magazine editors, were helping edit and fact check.

TVs had been set up all around the fourth floor at Scholastic HQ. We all watched the returns come in and munched on snacks. Scholastic provided us with Chinese food and pizza for dinner. 

I had a great election night reporting on history as it was made. I wrote the online Top Story, when Obama was declared the victor just a few minutes past 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.  I remember the excitement of watching Senator Obama as he accepted the results of the election. He was President!

We continued to report on the election until 3:00 a.m. Wednesday. I had never stayed up that late before!

Although the election is over, history continues as President-elect Obama begins his transition and his team prepare for the Inauguration.  Scholastic Kids Press Corps will continue to cover the stories as they happen. Look for our coverage in Scholastic News and Junior Scholastic magazines, Scholastic News Online, the Ask the Kids Press Corps blogs and on twitter as the Press Corps reports live from the inauguration.

PHOTO: Jack Greenberg (back right) and fellow Kid Reporters (from left) Elizabeth Conway, Jacob Schroeder, Haley Livingston, and Lya Ferreyra at Scholastic Headquarters in New York City on Election Night, November 4, 2008. Editor Dante Ciampaglia (back left) sits at his desk. Photo by Jessica Moon.

Recount In Minnesota

By Addie Backhus

Background

The 2008 election for U.S. Senate in Minnesota included the following people: Senator Norm Coleman, Republican incumbent; challenger Al Franken, Democrat, commedian and author; and
Dean Barkley, Independent, a former U.S. senator.

Main Story

On Election Night, the returns were too close to call. At 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, the Associated Press declared Coleman the winner. Two hours later it withdrew its declaration, saying that it had been premature. At first, Coleman was winning by 725 votes. By the end of the day, the margin had shrunk to 477 votes. On Thursday, it shrank further to 438 votes. By Friday, the margin was down to 221.

Since this election is so close, state law requires a recount. A recount is when people count the votes by hand so voters who indicated their choice clearly, but did not follow the strict rules of voting will have their votes counted. In Minnesota it’s a law that if the winner has a margin less than one half of a percent a recount is required. The margin in this race is 0.01 percent.

The recount will start soon and should be finished by December  5. The State Canvassing Board will make the final decision on who won the election on December 19 unless a judge decides differently. 

This race is very important for people in Minnesota and people in other parts of the country. If Franken wins, it would put the Democrats closer to having 60 votes, which makes them filibuster proof. Filibuster is a procedural tool used by Senators to keep a bill from an open vote. As long as a Senator is talking at the podium, no one can vote. Senators have been known to read names out of a phone book to delay votes on controversial bills.

This is the closest U.S Senate race in Minnesota history and the largest recount ever in Minnesota.

Congressional Results in Connecticut

By Caitlin Wardlow

Representative Rosa DeLauro of New Haven was reelected to the House for Connecticut’s 3rd district. She will be serving in her 10th term in congress. DeLauro's opponent in the race was Republican Boaz ItsHaky of Bethany and Green Party candidate Ralph A. Ferrucci of New Haven.

This race was not hotly contested because DeLauro has won the past three elections by over 65 percent. This time around was no exception as she captured 77 percent of the vote.

With eight races still to be decided in close races around the nation, Democrats are projected to win 254 seats to the Republicans 173.

Teachers Report in from New Jersey

By Danielle Azzolina

Today at my school, Oak Hill Academy in New Jersey, I was curious to know what one of my favorite teachers (who happens to teach history!) thought about this historic election. So I asked her.

"It’s a testimony to the strength of our country and hopefully a sign of unity within the country," Lynn Matson told me.

I then asked what she hoped President-elect Obama will do when he takes office?

"I hope that he will choose a strong and reliable cabinet and advisors," she said. "I hope that he will work to build a reputation back to what it should be in the world. I also hope he can resolve the economic crisis we are in currently."

Assistant headmaster Patrice Murray said this election proved that the American people are in control.

"When you vote, the American people’s voices are heard and the public certainly overwhelmingly choose Obama,” she said.

She hopes the new President will "unify the country, take care of our  economic state and keep us safe." She also hopes he will keep his campaign promises. I

I was really interested in the answers Ms. Murray and Ms. Matson gave because I respect them very much and they really thought about their answers.

I understand that kids and adults can hope for similar things in a President.  We are all Americans citizens, kids and adults.  Whatever decisions our President makes will certainly affect us all. I’m glad that I had a chance to learn so much about this election at school and through Scholastic.  Even if you’re young it’s still important to learn to be a good and informed citizen.

PHOTO: History teacher Lynn Matson with Kid Reporter Danielle Azzolina. (Photo courtesy Danielle Azzolina)