Today more than 400 second graders from Phenix City Schools cheered and counted down to the grand entrance of Libby Liberty™. Wearing green paper crowns and waving tiny American flags, they showed their enthusiasm for the Super Citizen Program they’ll begin after today’s theatrical performance.

Liberty Learning Foundation (with generous sponsorship by the Russell County Community Alliance) is kicking off the program in a big way. Not only are students watching as the vivacious Statue of Liberty character brings history to life, they are also being introduced to the man who will give them a “hand” with lessons back in their classrooms. As Libby winds down, she hands the screen over to Mr. Palmer, a brash and brilliant hand-character who leads students in DVD-based lessons in civics, character, financial literacy and our Great American Story.

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Donna Ash

“Students interact with the text so it becomes real life,” says Director of Phenix City Schools Elementary Curriculum and Instruction Donna Ash. “It’s not just a page in a book. LIBERTY is this real thing. That’s really important to me as an educator because I’ve always wanted that for Social Studies.”

 

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Bill Lowery shows support for Phenix City students on behalf of Russell County Farmers Federation.

After class photos with Libby, students and teachers return to classrooms energized to learn crucial, all-American lessons. They’ll also begin the process of nominating and honoring “Helping Hands Heroes” who they will honor at their graduation celebration when the program is complete for this year.

 

William Lowery, President of Russell County Farmers Federation, summed up the day: “I’ve been very impressed and I leave here uplifted,” he said. “We need that in America today.”

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Were you at the event? See the photo gallery below to find yourself, to revisit the magic or watch it unfold for the first time >