Students from Mary McLeod Bethune School No. 45 Receive Letters from President Biden
(October 7, 2022) Students at Mary McLeod Bethune School No. 45 have received acknowledgment from President Biden about their concerns relative to gun violence.
In the spring of 2022, then sixth-grade students in Ms. Frances Rogers’ class discussed gun violence that was taking place around the world, including a horrific shooting in nearby Buffalo, NY, where ten people were killed. As a result, students were given a writing assignment to send a letter to President Biden.
Students thanked President Biden for his visit to Buffalo, and they also voiced their position on gun violence in their own words. Prior to the writing assignment, students had discussions on violence and watched a video of President Biden’s visit to Buffalo.
Since writing those letters, the students, who are now in seventh grade, have received a written response from the White House and opened their letters in class on Friday morning, October 7. In these letters, President Biden stated, “I love hearing from students. Even at your young age, you have the power to change the future and make history.”
Miss Rogers purchased picture frames for each of the students to have their letters from President Biden as a keepsake.
Jessica Jackson, a student in Miss Rogers’ class, said she was upset when she heard about the shooting in Buffalo. “I have family members that live in Buffalo, and it was heartbreaking to see people’s lives that were taken away. It was not their time yet to go,” said Jackson. “When we had to write the letter, I was upset. I was imagining myself in their shoes. I never thought in a million years I would get a letter from the President of the United States. I am very thankful for the opportunity and for what Miss Rogers did.”
“It is so powerful that our students learn about the influence of their voices at a young age,” said Christine Manuele-Turnquist, Principal of School No. 45. “I want to thank our students for their courage to say something when they saw a problem and to President Biden for acknowledging our children and their concerns.”
“Students were charged with voicing their concerns through written communication to someone who could help bring about a change in our country on gun violence,” said Frances Rogers. “The importance of these letters coming from the highest office in the country speaks volumes to let our students know their voices matter.”