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February 3, 2022BY TANYA CONNOR | THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
Freedom.
Equality.
Also, loving and helping others and caring for the earth.
Being an American means these things to students at St. Mary Elementary School in Shrewsbury. The children said as much – and more – in essays they wrote for Catholic Schools Week.
Monday’s theme was “celebrating our nation.” It included playing online patriotic games and dressing in red, white and blue, said second-grade teacher Patricia O’Brien, a member of the school’s nation committee with Ellen Ethier, fifth-grade homeroom teacher, and Michael Moakley, who teaches science to grades 5-8.
Usually on nation day St. Mary’s has an all-school gathering to listen to a speaker or sing patriotic songs, she said, but, “because of COVID, we had to think outside the box.” The last two years, students collected needed items for veterans or troops. But this year, for the first time that Mrs. O’Brien recalls in her 22 years there, the main activity was having students in kindergarten through grade 8 write an essay: “What does being an American mean to me?”
“It was good to get their perspective,” Mrs. O’Brien said, noting that the diversity of the student population is growing, with some who came from other countries, or whose parents did.
Preparing for the St. Mary’s open houses for prospective students, nation committee members got drafts of the essays last week, corrected them, and had students write a final draft and color it, she said. The essays were then posted on the cafeteria wall for open house attendees to see. One open house was to be held yesterday. The other was rescheduled from last Sunday, because of the snowstorm, to this Sunday, Feb. 6, from 1-3 p.m.
So what will visitors learn about being an American?
It means to “love one another” and to “have great dreams.” It means “we have the right to not answer a question” and can get a good education.
“Everyone should be treated fairly, and everyone can go to the same school,” pointed out Isabella. “Both black kids and white kids can go play wherever they want.”
Being an American means “to fight for our freedom and help others,” according to John, grade 2. “We try to keep our planet clean, and honor the flag. It means honoring people who sacrifice themselves.”
“Being an American means that I have freedom and safety like no other country does,” wrote fifth-grader Samuel Beaton. “It means that I can live a happy life not under complete control of the government. It also means that I have the amendments. … the rules are for the good of the country not laws that treat the government like royalty.”
“To be an American means to be part of a society that is free,” wrote Annie Halligan, grade 8. “It means to live peacefully with people that have different opinions than you” and to be able to “elect leaders … live under a democratic government … make a life for yourself” and “live in a progressive society where changes can be made for improvement. Being an American can mean many things but in all it means living in a country where you can live in unity and be free.”
