"Soul Of a Nation" Performance to Celebrate Lincoln's Birthday at Abraham Lincoln School

As an alternative to the bland, combined President's day, middle and elementary school students will put on a performance establishing the first annual Lincoln's Birthday celebration at the upper Manhattan independent school that bears his name. Along with a chorale odes that features the words of America's most revered leaders, graduates of the school will read from President Lincoln's most inspiring speeches.

Soul Of A Nation" Performance to Celebrate
Lincolns Birthday at Abraham Lincoln School

NEW YORK

Students and parents at Abraham Lincoln School in upper Manhattan will perform a special program, "Soul of Nation" on Wednesday February 12 to honor America's 16th President as part of the school's first annual Lincoln's Birthday celebration.

Two performances, each lasting half an hour will take place at the elementary and middle school at 12 E. 79th Street, at 10 AM for students, and 2 PM for parents. The chorale ode spoken and sung by students, blends stirring phrases from our nation's history. Adult graduates of school and parents will read excerpts from President Lincoln's greatest speeches. Local political leaders have been invited to attend and have issued statements supporting the first program of an annual event at the school. David Blankenhorn, President of the Institute of American Values, will make brief remarks on Lincolns contributions.

The schools headmaster Howard Schott, who will introduce the program, says that Lincoln "is as relevant today as he was 150 years ago," but says that a combined President's Day shortchanges the legacy of our two greatest Presidents.

"Children, should be reminded," says Schott, that the largely self taught Lincoln, drawing on the wisdom found in the Bible and Shakespeare, produced reasoned eloquence that clarified the moral issues of his day -- and ours. Policy makers need to be reminded of Lincoln's view that education is 'the most important task facing government.

Soul of a Nation" was written by Dr. Monica Vecchio, a trustee of the school. It includes the words of Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Patrick Henry and Franklin Delano Roosevelt and others American leaders.

Abraham Lincoln School, an independent school associated with the School of Practical Philosophy and the St. James School in London, was the feature of recent profiles in New York Times, Education Update and National Public Radio, because of efforts to address the issue of teaching ethics to students.