By Eileen Oldfield, Staff Writer
There were no doubts about the importance of Tuesday’s inauguration for Hillsborough students watching the ceremonies.
”It’s obviously historical,” Chris DelMaestro, a senior taking Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics, said. “It’s cool to be a part of this and witness it.”
”He (President Barack Obama) brings something new and fresh to politics,” Alison Rash, also a senior in the class, said.
Several high school teachers allowed students to watch the inauguration ceremonies on the classroom televisions rather than teaching a regular lesson, noting the significance of this year’s election.
Hillsborough Middle School and Auten Road Intermediate School students watched Tuesday’s inauguration as well, while elementary school students participated in activities around their individual schools.
For many students, it will be the first time they’re able to study a Democrat leading the country; most were too young to remember the Clinton administration, high school history teacher Robert Fenster said.
”In their lifetimes, they’ve only really known (George W.) Bush,” Mr. Fenster said. “It’s a transfer of power from one person to another, and also from party to party.”
Though many of the students in the class were too young to vote in the election, the class held voter registration drives in the senior homerooms encouraging their of-age peers to register and vote. Other students canvassed nearby towns on Election Day, reminding the towns’ residents to vote.
The students will have a second registration drive as April’s school board elections approach, Mr. Fenster said.
Having studied the election since school began, and as the primaries weeded out various candidates, the students refined their opinions on campaign issues, and their choices if their preferred candidate wasn’t on the ballot.
The process and the Tuesday’s ceremonies allowed students to study the specifics of an election, and shifted the paradigms regarding the presidency, Mr. Fenster said.
”I think through paying attention to the debates and advertisements and our own discussions, they gained a deeper knowledge, a more sophisticated knowledge, of this year’s issues,” Mr. Fenster said. “I think most (students) came in with leanings toward the issues.”
As the class and elections progressed, the students noted economic issues dominating the public’s concerns, and continue studying the government.
”I’ve learned to be more alert in politics,” Chris said. “To be a member of this country is reading the newspaper and being involved.”
”So far, it looks like he’s (President Obama) doing a good job,” he added. “He’s appointing people from outside his party.”

