These kids got the history lesson that the state isn’t giving them.
Veterans dropped knowledge bombs on students at IS 259 during an early Veteran’s Day assembly honoring America’s fighting men and women on Nov. 10. Learning about the sacrifices American heroes have made may not be part of state-mandated curriculum, but its just as important, said the teacher who organized the assembly.
“We talk about our high expectations for the common core curriculum, well this is the common core,” said seventh-grade teacher Jessica Amato. “Its the veterans that served that have allowed us to learn in the safe environment we do.”
Vets took to the Dyker Heights school’s auditorium stage, sharing stories about the sacrifices service members make and explaining ways young people can support veterans after they’ve returned home, such as writing letters or going to veteran’s hospitals. It was an eye-opening experience for the students, many of whom had never met a veteran before, said Amato.“It’s a life-long lesson for students to learn that freedom doesn’t come free and that we appreciate all the works vets have done, the sacrifices they’ve made, and how we can help them,” she said.
Students with family in the military also spoke, one student read a poem he wrote about veterans, and the school marching band played.Student musicians closed the assembly by playing funereal bugle tune “Taps.”
