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News
4,500 third graders get rockin' history lesson
Anaheim invites every third grader to "The Gift of History" at Convention Center.
By Eric Carpenter, Orange County Register
October 6, 2009
Anaheim, CA, The Anaheim Convention Center rocked Tuesday with 4,500 third-graders standing and stomping their feet, waiting for the show to begin.
The show: One giant history lesson.
Anaheim officials invited every third grader in Anaheim, from more than 30 public and private schools, to participate in "The Gift of History," which encouraged them to know their local history and stay in school.
With the help of several sponsors, including the Office Depot Foundation, each student received a free backpack, a plastic firefighter's helmet and a copy of "Anna's Home by the River," a children's history of Anaheim.
The event, hosted by Mayor Curt Pringle, included speeches from state Sen. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, who attended elementary school in Anaheim. And from Angels baseball announcer Jose Mota, who spoke in English and Spanish. He told the students that even though he was a baseball player and "sometimes a lazy student," he stuck with school and finished college, which opened up career opportunities.
"Nobody is stopping you, never give up," Mota said.
A majority of students in Anaheim are Hispanic and many speak Spanish at home. Correa told the students: "If you study hard, you can be anything you want," before leading them in a chant of, "Si se puede(Yes, we can)."
Keeping the attention of an arena full of restless 7- and 8-year olds isn't easy. So organizers brought out a few secret weapons. Police Chief John Welter roared into the arena on his police motorcycle.
And students saved their loudest cheers for the last guest, who came from just across the street – Mickey Mouse.