Jared Dembski has read about the most memorable moments in American history in his social studies classroom in Morganton.
Today, he will witness firsthand an event that will be taught in schools for generations.
Dembski and nine classmates plan to join millions on the National Mall Tuesday to watch Barack Obama be sworn in as the first black president.
"It symbolizes how far we've come from using African Americans as slaves to having an African American running the country," said Dembski, 13, of Nebo. "I had a little bit of the understanding of the significance before coming here, but when I got here, it really dawned on me that I'll be witnessing history."
For many teachers, Obama's history-making inauguration presented an opportunity to illuminate the era of slavery, the struggle by black Americans for equal rights, and presidential politics.
"We read about so many historical moments in our textbooks, and sometimes I think the students feel disconnected from history," said Britta Gramer, a social studies teacher at Morganton Day School who brought a group of nine 8th graders and one 9th grader to Washington.
Gramer said many of her students would probably not fully appreciate witnessing Obama's inauguration until they grew up and related the experience to their children and grandchildren.
But, she said, many had developed a better grasp on the moment after visiting a museum in Washington and looking at old newspapers documenting the Civil Rights era on Monday - Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
"Having the first black president, it's definitely a big moment in U.S. history," said Michael Brazinski, 13, an eighth grader from Morganton.
The school held a mock election this fall to help students develop a better understanding of presidential politics. Obama won easily. Eighth grader Eric Antley, 14, of Morganton voted for President George W. Bush "as a joke."
"I like Obama, but everyone was going to vote for Obama anyway," he said.
Antley said he expected the significance of the inauguration would grow as he aged.
"I haven't seen many people in my class freaking out, saying 'Oh my gosh, Barack Obama is going to be president.' But later, I think we'll be telling our kids that we were there, and realize how important it is," he said.
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