Hartselle second and fifth grade students all pledged to be ‘super citizens’ Thursday after ten weeks of special classes and projects. The schools partnered with the Liberty Learning Foundation to teach students the importance of community and being good citizens.

Jessi Smith is the Regional Vice President of Development for the Liberty Learning Foundation and said the organization was created to help students to become good citizens. The organizations hosts two programs for the students and provides educators with special supplemental lessons and activities. “Our main focus is teaching, inspiring, and empowering the next generation of great Americans,” Smith said.

Enquirer photo/Lauren Jackson Students danced and sung to celebrate becoming super citizens.

The lessons that the program covers includes subjects such as civics, character, financial responsibility and career development. Smith said the lessons are taught at an age appropriate level, and fall into the standards already in place by the state. The program has reached out to 42 different counties throughout Alabama. “All of the lessons are taught on the foundation of our great American story,” Smith said.

The Liberty Learning Foundation reaches second and fifth grade students with additional programs for seventh and high school students in the works. Hartselle City Schools Superintendent Dr. Dee Dee Jones said she liked that the program focused on community. “We talk about community heroes here. I like the emphasis of the community and of valuing it,” Jones said.

Enquirer photo/Lauren Jackson
Students honored community members for the impact they make.

During the programs on Thursday, students recognized some of their community heroes and then read essays they had written about their hero. Many of the students recognized their educators and staff members at their school that helped them. “We have great local heroes that help everyday,” Jones said.

One of the Liberty Learning Foundation ideas is that when you honor a hero you become a hero. Smith said the program allows students to fully realize the impact that local people make on the community. “We want them to know it is not the people that you see on tv that are going to support them, it is the people that see you everyday,” she said.

According to Smith, the program was started after the president took part in an honor flight and felt like there was not enough patriotism anymore. “We felt like there was an age gap in the community that they forgot how important it is to be a citizen,” Smith said.

Jones say the program helps to implement what is already in place at Hartselle City Schools. “It really does enhance what standards are already required and it is a way to go deeper and understand it more,” Jones said.