Sunday, February 19, 2012

lincoln's 2-minute speech

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. 

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. 

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom— and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

address at gettysburg, nov. 19th, 1863

our class has a beautifully illustrated book of this address, and we challenged our third graders to read it repeatedly and present it to the class.  many took the challenge, and we could see them rehearsing and pulling meaning out of the big words.  the little ones (1st and 2nd graders in our multi-grade class) were patient, listening to the same words more than once.  inspiring beauty.  happy president's day.

5 comments:

  1. Love the Gettysburg Address. My husband and I went to Gettysburg on our road trip in 2010 and were reciting the address (trying to memorize it) the entire drive across country. Teri

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  2. It's been a while since I had read his speak .... thanks for sharing it!!!

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  3. Callum had to memorize this for school last year. I always meant to video him doing it, and never did! I'll have to see if he "still has it!" Such a moving piece.

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  4. i love that your class finds such joy and passion in learning. you being the passionate teacher that you are surely helps. happy presidents day x

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  5. Yes, I remember having to memorize this speech in middle school. As a test, we had to stand in front of the class and recite it from memory. Somehow I pulled it off. It's a great speech. Happy President's Day and Monday to you too, N!

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