Sixth Grade Trip to Philadelphia and Gettysburg

St. B’s sixth graders ventured on a three-day journey to see some important American landmarks.  Led by their courageous teachers, Mr. Landesman and Mr. Moraitis, and parent chaperones, they arrived at Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia last Tuesday.  After a visit to Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center Museum, they continued their journey to Gettysburg.  The next morning they explored the battlefield, reflected in the museum, and explored the surrounding town.  The highlight for many boys was participating in the reenactment of Pickett’s Charge.

In honor of their class trip to Philadelphia and Gettysburg, sixth graders wrote hypothetical letters to Mr. Johnson, with the hopes of convincing him to keep this field trip alive for future St. B’s sixth graders.  We have included a persuasive plea below.

The Gettysburg Address to Mr. Johnson
By Teddy N., Grade VI

Dear Mr. Johnson,

One score and eight years ago our teachers brought forth in this school a new trip, conceived in history, and dedicated to the proposition that all field trips are not created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war testing whether that trip, or any trip so conceived and so fun, can long endure.  We are met on a great battlefield of that war.  We have come to convince you to keep this trip, so we may visit the final resting place for those who gave their lives that that nation might live.  It is altogether fitting and proper that we should keep this trip.

But in a larger sense, we cannot dispose of -- we cannot decimate -- we cannot get rid of this trip.  The articulate letters, good or bad, that struggled to keep this trip, have saved this trip far above our poor power to add or detract.  It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored attempts we take increased devotion to the cause of saving the Gettysburg trip for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these sixth graders shall not have tried in vain -- that this trip, under Mr. Moraitis and Mr. Landesman, shall have a new birth of merriment -- and that Gettysburg trips of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the school.