PLACENTIA : A President Comes Alive for Students

Removing his signature stovepipe hat and stroking his beard, the 16th President of the United States asked who in the audience could recall by memory his best-know oration, the Gettysburg Address.

Several of the youngsters stretched their arms high, hoping for the chance to be chosen by President Abraham Lincoln. After all, the prize was an authentic Civil War bullet.

After a few failed tries by nervous students, fourth-grader Allison Wanger won the antique bullet for being able to recite the famous first line of the speech. The “President” congratulated her, then resumed his narrative about the Civil War.

Actually, the President was being portrayed by sixth-grade teacher Ed Marestaing, who for the last five years has presented his one-man performance of Abraham Lincoln to first- through sixth-graders at Sierra Vista Elementary School. Each year, Marestaing chooses a different part of Lincoln’s life to dramatize with his presentation; he decided on showcasing the Civil War at last week’s assembly.

“These are photographs about my life,” he told the students, pointing to the wide-screen television playing a video on Lincoln’s life.

Using videos on Lincoln, the Civil War and 19th-Century folk culture, combined with period props to take children back in time, Marestaing gave students a lesson last Thursday that transcended just reading about the topic. In his presentation, he mixes historical achievements with fun facts, such as stories about the mischievous pranks the President’s sons played while in the White House.

“When was I born?” the 40-year-old instructor asked, again prompting an enthusiastic response. “Feb. 12, 1809--your birthday was yesterday,” yelled out one student, who received a small flag for his answer.

Each in the young audience came away with favorite anecdotes about Lincoln’s life from the personal stories told during the 40-minute presentation. Marestaing, who has taught at the school for all of his 18-year career, has been collecting information on Lincoln’s life since he was 11.

The method is effective.

“I learned how to load a musket,” said fourth-grader Eric Gilliand. “I also learned that Americans fought against each other when they were all just plain ol’ Americans. But we had to because we couldn’t still have slavery.”

Bullet-winner Wanger said that even though she memorized the Gettysburg Address, she wasn’t certain what the words all meant. But she did understand the significance of Lincoln’s message.

“I know he helped the slaves by freeing them,” said the 10-year-old. “It wasn’t fair that there were slaves because we all should be equal.”

As for their teacher’s performance, many of the older children said he “did a good job.” Jamie Lapyrolerie, 9, said: “I like how he dresses up and wears a beard. It makes him a good teacher.”