Monday, February 15, 1999
Real-life lesson on the presidency
Clinton case offers kids rare glimpse
BY CHRISTINE WOLFF
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Eleven-year-old Mark Wright held up fingers in two victory signs, stretching both arms over his head in President Richard Nixon's famous stance. He imitated Mr. Nixon for Friday's all-student “Wax Museum” featuring famous 20th-century people at Blue Ash's Greene Intermediate School.
When other students walked by, stopped and pushed a “red button” on his clothes, Mark recited his piece, based on his research.
Coincidentally, the American presidency was passing its toughest test since 1974, when a disgraced Mr. Nixon resigned rather than risk impeachment.
As Mark and his classmates played out their roles, so did the Senate. It acquitted Mr. Clinton of perjury and obstruction of justice, and everyone could look ahead to a national Presidents Day holiday today.
Between Nixon poses, Mark spoke about the impact of Mr. Clinton's actions and Congress' response.
“I don't think the presidency looks as strong as it used to be because of what's going on,” Mark said. “It kind of sets a bad example for every one.”
For weeks, Mr. Clinton's impeachment proceedings and Senate trial have injected extraordinary energy — and graphic sexual information — into social studies and government classes.
From elementary to high school, teachers have striven to keep age-appropriate discussions going about what might be once-in-a-lifetime events.
“We talk about it during
"current events' but don't focus on the (sexual) details. That's too touchy with sixth-graders,” said Greene teacher Kathy Ossola. “We give them a chance to discuss and a chance to react. They are definitely interested in what's happening in Washington. We stress that this is a rare thing happening.”
Most students know “where the line is” for bringing up the unmentionables of the Clinton trial, said Karen Bare, who teaches government to Sycamore seniors. The Clinton trial has dominated class discussion for weeks, where “abuse of power in the presidency” otherwise would be a one-day lesson.
“It's part of the checks and balances — impeachment is a check on the president,” Ms. Bare said. “I tell them they are living history.”
Students say the fallout from this history lesson includes a heightened interest in politics and recognition of the damage done to respect for the nation's highest office.
“Clinton made a joke of the presidency. I'm ashamed that the person we elected would do that,” said Arielle Sandler, 17, a Sycamore senior from Montgomery. “It will take some time and a lot of work to build up trust again. ... I have gained interest in politics because of this. I felt touched personally.”
Mr. Clinton “took the whole purpose of being president and destroyed it,” said Emily Misrach, 18, of Montgomery. “He's elected to uphold the Constitution, and he's not going by those rules.”
Nick Petticrew, a 13-year-old Greene Intermediate student, said the next president could restore trust with a simple rule: “First, don't lie.”
“People voted for this president and, after he's president, all of a sudden, we can't trust him. It hurts us,” said Nick, who researched President John Kennedy for a wax-museum role.
Derrick Donaldson, 12, of Symmes Township — who also studied President Kennedy for the Greene project — said Americans “don't know who to trust. If I ever get the chance, I would be a good president. I would do what a president does, except not do what Bill Clinton did — and tell the truth.”
However, students reflected many other Americans' views when they noted that there was more to Mr. Clinton's administration than impeachment and the events that led to it.
“As a person and family man, he's not what you want to be,” said Nick Les Chander, 18, of Montgomery, “but you can't say he's not a good politician. He gets things done. He's not afraid to do it.”
Another outcome of the Clinton scandal: “It just opened the door for the first woman president,” said Jon Maxon, 17, a Sycamore senior.
Or as Katie Allen, 17, of Montgomery, put it, “Women tend to be more sensitive to the fact that there was something wrong with what (Clinton's) doing. Clinton's become kind of an advocate for "bad boys.'”
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