by Alex Brooks
The kids in Terri Burdick’s third grade class at Hoosick Falls Central School responded to a request for Letters to President Obama just after he was elected, sending in their letters along with thousands of other kids ages 5 to 15 from across the country. The request came from authors Bill Adler and his son Bill Adler Jr., who were putting together a book of such letters. Adler Sr. put together a similar collection almost half a century ago when President Kennedy was elected.
The book was released in mid-April, comprising about 200 letters chosen from the thousands received.
Two of the students in Mrs. Burdick’s class, Ryan Landry and Michaela Telford, had their letters chosen for publication in the book, called Kids Letters to President Obama.
The book gives a sense of the children’s excitement about his election and their sense of the awesome challenges he faces. The biggest thing the children wish to express is congratulations, but, being kids, they come up with all kinds of wacky questions, advice and comments. And of course they also want to tell the President about themselves. One, who clearly heard that Obama has trouble with bowling, offers to help the President learn to bowl; another makes a plea to the President to pass a law making chocolate a vegetable, and another urges the President to bring a yo-yo to the White House, presumably to help him through tense moments.
Asked how they thought Obama must be feeling after being elected, Michaela said “Happy,” and Ryan said “Overwhelmed.” On the main thing they wanted to say to the new President, they both agreed it was “Congratulations.”
Both of the children enjoy writing. Another project the class is doing this term is assembling a book of their essays. For this book, Ryan wrote about “my first dog,” and Michaela wrote about her trip to New Hampshire. Ryan’s favorite subjects are writing, reading, science and sports; Michaela’s are writing and math. Being already published authors at the age of eight, these two are off to a great start!
These are the letters they wrote:
Dear President Obama.
How old are you? I am eight. What do you do on Friday nights? Do you have any pets? I do, I have 2 dogs and 5 fish and 6 cats. They are nice. Do you write a lot? I do in school. What school did you go to when you were a little kid?
I hope you have fun at the White House.
Sincerely.
Michaela, age 8
Hoosick Falls, N.Y.
Dear President Obama,
Do you think you will have time to read to your daughters?
Your American Citizen,
Ryan, age 8
Hoosick Falls, NY