CALLED TO THE MALL

A collection offers student essays and art inspired by the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Every elementary school student in the United States is taught American civics, and there may be no place that demonstrates the history and ideas behind those lessons better than the National Mall. The students at Washington’s Shining Stars Montessori Academy Public Charter School were able to take advantage of their proximity to this assemblage of monuments by visiting the area and creating work inspired by it. In essays and drawings, the students reflect on figures from the civil rights movement like Bayard Rustin, Rosa Parks, John Lewis, and, of course, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. “There is a spectacular memorial to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., with his words on the walls,” writes Moses Jackson, age 8. “Martin was a peace leader and stood for equal rights for all people. He was never the president, yet he has a memorial on the National Mall.” Other pieces celebrate or illustrate the AIDS Memorial Quilt, the “awesome” Air and Space Museum, Washington’s Cherry Blossom Festival, and the Smithsonian’s “Gowns of the First Ladies” exhibition. Several of the essays focus on works from the National Gallery of Art, such as a bronze statue of Mercury. “I think he’s an athlete,” writes Darrell Carey, 9. “He has strong arms and legs and he has wings on his ankles and his helmet. You can tell he’s moving fast because he’s up on the ball of his foot.” A sprawling comic strip created by several students shows some of the activities that people do on the Mall, including flying kites, playing Frisbee and soccer, attending concerts, and having lunch.

The contributing students range in age from 8 to 15, though there are a few essays by adults as well, like Dave Wachter, a Vietnam veteran who reflects on the famous Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The earnest voices of the students shine through in their essays, which tend to be a mix of researched facts and thoughtful reactions. “When I look at this statue I feel sad,” writes Leria Amah, 8, of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. “I’m sorry for the soldier who is hurt. The nurses look worried. I am sorry for the nurses because they can’t really fix the hurt man with the bandage on his eyes while they wait for the helicopter.” The drawings generally highlight those things that elementary students find compelling, including big buildings, tall statues, and the huge dinosaurs at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (rendered in great style by Malik Diop, 8). There are also a number of photographs depicting the subjects of the various essays, like that of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who gets a brief profile by Mia Gaile, 8. The reading experience is a heartwarming one, though it does not quite rise to the level of enlightening or transformative. This book, edited by Kelley, will likely be a treasured object for these students and their families, but it is difficult to imagine many others perusing it.

A pleasant classroom project with limited appeal for a wide readership.