By Kendra Carter – The GadsdenTimes
Published: Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 5:34 p.m.

Lady Liberty held still her tablet and torch Tuesday afternoon, and the gathered crowd burst into applause.

Lady Liberty, portrayed by Rachael Rainwater, visited Attalla Elementary School Tuesday as part of a kickoff event as third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at the school begin the Liberty Learning Foundation’s Super Citizen Program, which teaches children American history along with character education, career development and financial literacy.

“You’ve got a title more important than our president: citizen,” Patti Yancey, executive director of the Liberty Learning Foundation, told the students. “The responsibility and opportunity that comes with that title is unbelievable.”

Attalla Elementary School students will begin having Super Citizen curriculum lessons at least once a week for the next several weeks during their social studies classes.

Yancey said the civic and character education is not already taught with a full curriculum in public schools, though she said certain teachers set an example.

During the 30-minute program in the school gymnasium, Rainwater told the students the history of the Statue of Liberty and the freedoms for which it stands, before playing a video about the Super Citizen program and singing a song. The kids waved small American flags and also did some sign language while singing.

Third-grader Shaylyn Mink said after the presentation that her throat hurt from “screaming so loud.” She said she had fun during the program.

Fifth-grader J.D. Moore said he would learn more about freedom during the Super Citizen Program, and fifth-graders Zoey Whitley and Syndey Smith answered that they’d learn about citizenship.

Moore said the most interesting thing he learned was that Lady Liberty “goes to other schools and teaches other kids.”

Etowah Middle School Principal Greg Edge said he hoped the program will “make students respect freedom and those who helped pay for that.”

He said the school was fortunate to be able to offer the program to third, fourth and fifth grades.

“Hopefully they’ll get to be better citizens of this country,” Edge said. “I feel we’re losing some of our patriotism, and we want to kindle that.”