Even 130 years after his death, Abraham Lincoln inspires students to do their best. That’s why about 190 students from Lombard’s Manor Hill School were honored last week.
In November, principal Ron Dayton had celebrated American Education Week with his own personal Lincoln story. Dayton, as a 2nd grader, attended school in a rural building where Lincoln had once worked.
“Sometimes I’d touch the wall and wonder if Mr. Lincoln had put his hand there,” Dayton told Manor Hill students. “It made me feel a sense of honoring him by doing my best.”
To maintain that sense of commitment, young Dayton made a pact with his family promising just that. And this school year, principal Dayton offered a similar opportunity to Manor Hill’s 273 students.
The voluntary contracts, each signed by a student, teacher, parent and Dayton, include the student’s assurance that “I agree to try to give my very best effort each and every day.”
“I looked at check marks on the report card to see if teachers saw effort there that maybe past years’ teachers hadn’t,” Dayton explained. “Changing a life pattern is not an easy thing, but I have seen it.”
Among those recognized was Matthew Cwiklinski, 9, of Lombard. Matthew explained how he kept up his end of the bargain: “When you sign it, and write it down, it’s more like a real promise.”
