Given the uncertainty of precisely when Donald Trump would officially be sworn in Friday as the 45th president of the United States, Bartlett High School social studies teacher Larry Pahl kept an eye on his computer live-streaming the inauguration and another on the first-floor wing he was monitoring during his free period.
By the time President Trump closed his inaugural address, Pahl was back in his third-floor classroom greeting students at the start of his fifth-period class. Unlike his first classes of the day, Pahl could finally address and discuss the significance and magnitude of Friday’s inauguration with his students.
“And now it’s happened: Donald Trump is our president,” he told his class.
The students, for the most part, were skeptical of what was to come in the next four years, and they critiqued the structure and message of the president’s inaugural address.
“He has said a lot of things (over time),” Raquel Landeros said. “I’m just hoping he actually does them.”
The president’s speech, centered around the themes of “America First” and returning power to the people, could have been better, the students said.
“His whole speech was cliche until the very end” of the 10-minute clip they saw, said student Ivory Scalise.
Most of these students did not see the end of Trump’s address, as students were walking in to the class at that point. Trump gave his closing remarks, which included his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.” One student could be heard saying that he knew the catchphrase would make an appearance.
Pahl defended some of Trump’s speech, noting that some lines rivaled other all-time great speeches.
“I think Trump had a couple of that quality. But he’s just not as charismatic” as others when he delivers them, Pahl said.
Blake Busch, also a senior, added that “he did a good job at appealing to his audience” but seemed to not cater to notable critics, like Democrats or more traditional Republicans.
What happens next is uncertain, students added. His speech portrayed a vision of American exceptionalism, which students noted can be both a good and bad thing.
“It feels like he’s looking down at other countries,” said student Harry Bretz.
“I’m just afraid something will happen with other countries,” added Mary Ovan.
In the end, Pahl was glad his students opened up about the major milestone.
“The problem is not the cacophony of the ceremony, it is getting students interested enough to talk,” he said.
